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Longevity

Epitalon Guide & Tableau de Dose

A pineal tetrapeptide studied for telomere and longevity outcomes.

Également appeléEpithalon
Demi-vieshort
Voiesubcutaneous
Epitalon — Tableau de dose
Chaque ligne citée
ObjectifDoseFréquenceDuréePreuveSource
Breast adenocarcinoma suppression and lifespan extension (transgenic HER-2/neu mice) 1 mg 5x/week from 2nd month of life to death Preclinical PMID 12459848
Colon carcinogenesis inhibition (rats, full experiment duration) 1 mcg 5x/week 6 months Preclinical PMID 12964022
Lifespan extension and carcinogenesis modulation in senescence-accelerated mice 1 mcg 5x/week monthly per trial Preclinical PMID 15909815
Neocortical neuron activity modulation (rats, intranasal) 0.03 mcg single dose single administration Preclinical PMID 17955380
Improvement of small intestinal transport in aged rats (oral) 1 mg per trial 1 month Preclinical PMID 12420071
À des fins de recherche et d'éducation uniquement. Pas un avis médical.

What is Epitalon?

Epitalon (also spelled Epithalon or Epithalone) is a tiny synthetic peptide made of just four amino acids: alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and glycine — often written as AEDG. Scientists designed it by studying the amino acid makeup of Epithalamin, a natural extract taken from the bovine pineal gland — the small, pea-sized structure deep in the brain that helps control sleep and circadian rhythms.[1] Because it mirrors something the body already produces, researchers have been intrigued by its potential biological activity for more than 25 years.[1]

Epitalon sits in the longevity research category. It is a research compound only — not approved as a medicine, not for human self-administration, and not a supplement. Everything on this page describes laboratory and animal studies.

How Epitalon Works

Think of your chromosomes as shoelaces. The protective plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces are called aglets — and telomeres play that same protective role on your DNA. Every time a cell divides, those tips get a little shorter. When they get too short, the cell stops dividing or dies. An enzyme called telomerase can rebuild those tips.

Research shows that Epitalon activates telomerase — the enzyme that lengthens telomeres — in normal human cells. In one 2025 cell-line study, Epitalon produced dose-dependent telomere lengthening in normal epithelial and fibroblast cells by upregulating hTERT mRNA expression and boosting telomerase enzyme activity.[3] Cancer cell lines showed telomere lengthening through a different backup pathway called ALT (Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres), while normal cells showed only minor ALT involvement — suggesting the mechanisms differ between healthy and malignant cells.[3]

Beyond telomeres, Epitalon appears to influence melatonin production, immune signaling (including interleukin-2 mRNA levels), antioxidant defenses, and the activity of several enzymes.[1] In old rhesus monkeys, it produced a threefold increase in nocturnal melatonin peaks — a striking finding given that melatonin production typically declines with age.[6]

What the Research Shows

Here is a plain-language tour of the key findings so far:

  • Telomere lengthening in human cells (2025): Lab work at Brunel University London confirmed Epitalon extends telomere length in normal human cell lines through telomerase upregulation — providing some of the first detailed molecular evidence for this mechanism.[3]
  • Lifespan extension in animal models: Early foundational research documented lifespan increases in mice and fruit flies, along with restored circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol in aged rhesus monkeys.[4]
  • Anti-cancer and anti-carcinogenesis effects: Animal studies explored Epitalon's ability to suppress breast tumor growth in transgenic HER-2/neu mice and inhibit colon carcinogenesis in rats.[4]
  • Oocyte protection (2022): In a mouse cell study, Epitalon at 0.1 mM reduced harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), improved mitochondrial health, reduced spindle defects, and cut apoptosis (cell death) in aging oocytes — suggesting antioxidant effects comparable to melatonin.[5]
  • Pineal gland aging: The pineal gland itself changes with age in mostly functional (not structural) ways, and Epitalon is among the agents studied to address those functional declines.[6]
  • Broader biological activity: A 2025 review summarized Epitalon's geroprotective, neuroprotective, and antimutagenic properties, noting effects on immune markers, enzyme activity, and neuroendocrine regulation — while acknowledging that the full picture of how it works remains incomplete.[1]

What Epitalon Is Being Studied For

  • Telomere maintenance and cellular aging[3]
  • Longevity and lifespan extension in animal models[4]
  • Melatonin and circadian rhythm restoration in aged subjects[6]
  • Carcinogenesis inhibition (breast and colon models)[4]
  • Reproductive cell quality and oocyte aging[5]
  • Neuroprotection and neuroendocrine balance[1]
  • Mitochondrial and antioxidant activity[5]
  • Recovery and circadian regulation relevant to musculoskeletal research[2]

How Epitalon Is Dosed in Research

Doses used in animal and cell studies vary considerably depending on the research goal, the species, and the route of administration — ranging from microgram-level doses for neocortical neuron studies all the way to milligram-level doses in tumor-suppression trials. See the dosage chart on this page for a full breakdown of each study protocol, and use the calculator to explore how those research figures scale. All dosing information here is strictly for educational reference.

Mixing and Storing Epitalon

In research settings, Epitalon powder is typically reconstituted — that means dissolving it in a liquid to create a solution. Bacteriostatic water (sterile water with a small amount of benzyl alcohol to prevent bacterial growth) is the standard choice; it allows the solution to be stored and drawn from multiple times. The general process: add the bacteriostatic water slowly to the vial, swirl gently — never shake — and allow it to dissolve fully. Once mixed, the solution is usually stored in a refrigerator (around 2–8 °C / 36–46 °F) and protected from light. Unused, unmixed peptide powder should be kept frozen and away from moisture. Always follow the specific storage instructions that come with the research-grade material, and use proper sterile technique throughout.

Sources

  1. Overview of Epitalon-Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties. — International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. PMID 40141333.
  2. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. — Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews, 2026. PMID 41490200.
  3. Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity. — Biogerontology, 2025. PMID 40908429.
  4. Peptides and Ageing. — Neuro endocrinology letters, 2002. PMID 12374906.
  5. Epitalon protects against post-ovulatory aging-related damage of mouse oocytes in vitro. — Aging, 2022. PMID 35413689.
  6. [Aging of the pineal gland]. — Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii, 2002. PMID 12096440.

Epitalon FAQ

What is Epitalon?
Epitalon (also called Epithalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide — a chain of four amino acids (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) — modeled on a natural extract from the bovine pineal gland. It has been studied for over 25 years for potential geroprotective, antioxidant, and neuroendocrine effects in cell and animal research.[1] It is a research compound, not an approved medicine.
How does Epitalon work?
The best-documented mechanism involves telomerase — the enzyme that rebuilds protective telomere caps on chromosomes. A 2025 study found Epitalon extends telomere length in normal human cells by upregulating hTERT mRNA and boosting telomerase activity.[3] It also appears to stimulate melatonin production, support antioxidant defenses, and modulate immune signaling.[1]
What is Epitalon used for in research?
Researchers are studying it for telomere maintenance, lifespan extension, melatonin and circadian rhythm restoration in aged animals, carcinogenesis inhibition, oocyte quality protection, and neuroprotection.[4][5] It has also been noted in orthopaedic peptide research for its circadian and mitochondrial regulatory properties.[2] All uses are preclinical — no human therapeutic applications are approved.
How is Epitalon dosed in research studies?
Research doses vary widely by model and goal — from 0.03 micrograms (single intranasal dose in rat neuron studies) to 1 milligram (tumor suppression in transgenic mice). Routes include injection and oral administration. See the dosage chart on this page for study-specific protocols. This information is for reference only and does not constitute dosing advice.
How do you reconstitute Epitalon?
In research settings, Epitalon powder is dissolved in bacteriostatic water to create a solution. Add the water slowly to the vial, swirl gently (don't shake), and let it dissolve fully. Store the reconstituted solution refrigerated (2–8 °C), protected from light, and keep unmixed powder frozen. Always use sterile technique and follow the supplier's specific instructions.
Is Epitalon safe?
Epitalon is a research compound. No large-scale human clinical safety trials have been published. Animal and cell studies have not flagged major toxicity signals, and one review noted its antioxidant and antimutagenic profile,[1] but the safety profile in humans is not established. It is not approved for human use. Anyone considering peptide research should consult appropriate regulatory and safety guidelines.