epithalamin raises a handful of sensible questions. This page answers them in order, starting with the fundamentals and moving to applications.
This page was last updated on 2026-06-15 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
The peptide emerged from research carried out in Saint Petersburg from the late 1980s onward, where investigators searched for shorter active fragments of a pineal preparation known as epithalamin. The name epitalon was chosen to reflect that parent extract. Early reports described effects on neuroendocrine markers and on the lifespan of laboratory animals. Much of that work appeared in Russian-language journals, with English translations following later, which affects how readily the original protocols can be assessed by outside groups.
Published studies on epitalon are dominated by a small number of research groups, and independent replication in other laboratories remains limited. Proposed mechanisms include activation of telomerase and modulation of melatonin rhythms, but the evidence for either rests mainly on cell cultures and animal models. Whether the peptide produces comparable effects in humans is an open question, and the absence of large controlled trials means the literature is best read as exploratory rather than settled.
Epitalon is a synthetic four-amino-acid peptide with the sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, commonly abbreviated AEDG. Its molecular formula is C14H22N4O9, and its calculated molar mass is approximately 390.35 grams per mole. The compound is a short fragment related to a peptide fraction isolated from bovine pineal gland extracts, and it is normally supplied as a lyophilised powder intended for laboratory research. It is not a registered pharmaceutical product in most countries.
Laboratory handling begins with dissolution of the lyophilized powder in water or a suitable aqueous buffer. The dry solid is the more stable form, so stock solutions are generally prepared only when required and kept cold afterwards. Repeated freezing and thawing of a solution is avoided because it encourages aggregation and gradual loss of the intact chain. Diluents and containers are selected to limit adsorption of a short peptide onto plastic surfaces and to reduce microbial growth in aqueous preparations.
Stability depends strongly on pH, temperature and the presence of oxygen and trace metals. Cleavage of the backbone proceeds faster under neutral to alkaline conditions, whereas acidic solutions tend to slow that reaction. The aspartate and glutamate side chains can undergo deamidation or imide formation over time, generating closely related impurities. Published stability data specific to epitalon are sparse, so the usable life of a given solution is best regarded as an open question that depends on buffer composition, concentration and storage temperature.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C14H22N4O9 | Derived from the four-residue sequence |
| Molar mass | About 390.35 g/mol | Free peptide, counter-ion not included |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Lyophilised solid from aqueous solution |
| Water solubility | Freely soluble | Short, polar peptide chain |
| Common synonyms | AEDG; epithalone | Catalogues use the names interchangeably |
Interest in epitalon is usually discussed within the broader field of short peptide bioregulators, a category that includes other synthetic di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides studied by the same research group. These compounds share a common rationale: that small fragments of tissue-derived proteins can retain biological activity and can be produced reproducibly. The category as a whole remains outside mainstream pharmacological consensus, and epitalon specifically has a limited presence in independent, non-Russian research literature, which shapes how its evidence base is described.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the amino acid sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, abbreviated Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly or AEDG. It was developed by the Russian researcher Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues during work on peptide bioregulators derived from the pineal gland. The compound is short enough to be produced by standard solid-phase peptide synthesis and is typically handled as a lyophilized white powder. Its small size distinguishes it from larger pineal peptides such as epithalamin, a complex extract from which the tetrapeptide was conceptually derived.
The four residues give epitalon a molecular formula of C14H22N4O9 and a molecular weight near 390.35 daltons. The presence of two acidic residues, glutamate and aspartate, makes the free peptide strongly acidic, while the alanine and glycine ends provide neutral, nonpolar character. This combination produces a molecule with substantial water solubility. Because there are no cysteine, methionine, or tryptophan residues, the peptide lacks the most common oxidation-sensitive side chains, which simplifies handling compared with many longer peptides.
Animal and clinical reports appear mainly in Russian-language journals from the 1990s and 2000s, covering endpoints such as melatonin rhythm, lifespan in aged rodents, and retinal function. Many of these papers involve small groups, lack blinding or placebo comparison, and are difficult to retrieve through indexed databases. Review articles published in English generally summarise the claims without reanalysing the underlying data. Because no large randomised trial exists, the clinical importance of these reported effects stays unresolved and is properly described as an open question.
No national medicines regulator has approved epitalon as a therapeutic product. It is generally distributed as a research chemical, and in some jurisdictions selling peptides for human consumption without approval is restricted or prohibited. Certificates of analysis accompanying commercial material vary in which tests are performed, and independent verification of identity and purity is uncommon. Statements about anti-ageing or disease-prevention benefits on vendor pages are marketing claims rather than regulatory findings, a distinction that shapes how the compound is discussed in scientific and popular sources alike.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, abbreviated AEDG. Its molecular formula is C14H22N4O9 and its calculated monoisotopic mass is approximately 390.35 daltons. The compound does not occur naturally as a free peptide; it is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Because it contains two acidic residues and no basic residues, the neutral form carries a net negative charge at physiological pH. This charge profile influences how the peptide behaves in solution and during chromatographic analysis.
Laboratory-grade epitalon is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder. Purity is commonly assessed with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, often paired with mass spectrometry to confirm molecular identity. Amino acid analysis and peptide mapping can provide additional confirmation of sequence. Certificates of analysis for research materials frequently report purity above 95 percent, although the methods behind such figures vary between suppliers. The absence of a pharmacopeial monograph means that no single standardized assay defines the compound, so reported results depend on the analytical protocol chosen.
Storage recommendations center on limiting moisture, heat, and light. The dry powder is generally kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius, and some suppliers recommend minus 80 degrees for long-term archival. Once dissolved, solutions are usually aliquoted and frozen to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can promote aggregation or degradation. Aqueous stability depends on pH and concentration, and buffered saline is often preferred over plain water for biological work. Stability data specific to epitalon remain limited, so general peptide-handling practices are applied by analogy rather than from product-specific validation.
Verification of a sample usually begins with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, which resolves the peptide from truncated sequences and other impurities and expresses purity as a percentage of total peak area. Mass spectrometry by electrospray ionisation or matrix-assisted laser desorption supplies an independent check, because the measured mass can be compared against the theoretical value for AEDG. Amino acid analysis or tandem mass spectrometry sequencing can confirm residue order. Each of these methods answers a different question: a purity figure does not establish identity, and an identity match does not establish how much of the material is intact peptide.
The molecule is a short, linear, hydrophilic peptide that dissolves readily in water or aqueous buffer. Its principal chemical liabilities are hydrolytic rather than oxidative, since it contains no cysteine, methionine, or tryptophan residues. The aspartate–glycine step is a recognised site for aspartimide formation under mildly acidic or basic conditions, generating isoaspartate and succinimide-related products over time. Desiccated lyophilised powder held at −20 °C is comparatively stable, whereas dilute solutions degrade faster and are best frozen as single-use aliquots rather than thawed repeatedly.
No pharmacopoeial monograph exists for this peptide, so quality rests on the supplier's internal specifications and on whatever independent testing a purchaser arranges. Certificates of analysis differ widely in which tests they report and in the limits applied. The counter-ion introduced during purification, commonly acetate or trifluoroacetate, changes the net peptide content of a given mass of powder, so two samples of equal weight may not contain equal amounts of the active sequence. Third-party laboratories can verify purity, identity, residual solvents, and counter-ion content for a fee, which makes documentation more informative than labelling.
26. Adv Gerontol. 2007;20(4):61-3. [The effect of pineal peptide preparations on proliferative activity in organotypic culture of the preoptic hypothalamus area]. [Article in Russian] Miliutina IuP, Kozina LS, Arutiunian AV, Chalisova NI, Lesniak VV, Morozova PIu. In investigations carried out with organotypic culture of mediobasal preoptic area (MPA) of hypothalamus it was established that pineal peptide preparations epitalon (2 ng/ml) and epithalamin (100 ng/ml) stimulate the development of proliferative activity of explants in 3 month and 24 months female rats. It has been shown that epithalamin is more effective in young rats in comparison with old animals, but epitalon as well as epithalamin have almost the same less pronounced inducing effect on growth zone in MPA explants from young and old animals. This effect is tissue specific and could be dependent on inhibition of apoptosis.
89. Mymensingh Med J. 2026 Oct;35(4):1312-1316. Diagnosis of Rhinoentomophthoromycosis in a 55 Years Old Male: A Case Report. Shawrave SA(1), Zoheb SJM, Galib GI, Tanni RZ, Shawon MMR, Bhuiyan MJT. Author information: (1)Dr Shaharior Arafat Shawrave, Associate Professor, Department of ENT and Head Neck Surgery, Dhaka Medical College (DMC), Dhaka, Bangladesh; E-mail: shawrave77@gmail.com. Entomophthoromycosis is a chronic fungal infection characterized by a diverse range of manifestations, including subcutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral infections. The majority of subcutaneous infections caused by entomophthoralean fungi are attributed to Basidiobolus spp, C. coronatus or C. incongruous. In this report, we present a case of rhinoentomophthoromycosis in a middle-aged, immunocompetent male, primarily affecting the nasopharynx. Initially, the diagnosis posed a dilemma, but it was ultimately confirmed through meticulous examination of microscopy and histopathology of the aspirate. The patient's response to antifungal therapy was favorable. We hereby provide a comprehensive account of this case and discuss the efficacy of Posaconazole in the treatment of rhinoentomophthoromycosis in a 55-year-old male patient with diabetes.
In Taiwan, the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) is the independent government agency that is responsible for major transportation accident investigations. TTSB's predecessor was ASC, which was established in 1998. TTSB is under the administration of the Executive Yuan and independent from Civil Aviation Administration. The TTSB consisted of five to seven board members, including a chairman and a vice chairman, appointed by the Premier. The managing director of TTSB manages the day-to-day function of the organization, including accident investigations. In the United Kingdom, the agency responsible for investigation of civilian air crashes is the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the Department for Transport. Its purpose is to establish the circumstances and causes of the accident and to make recommendations for their future avoidance.
Sources: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The word analgesic derives from Greek an- (ἀν-, "without"), álgos (ἄλγος, "pain"), and -ikos (-ικος, forming adjectives). Such drugs were usually known as "anodynes" before the 20th century. Analgesics are typically classified based on their mechanism of action. Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is a medication used to treat pain and fever. It is typically used for mild to moderate pain. In combination with opioid pain medication, paracetamol is now used for more severe pain such as cancer pain and after surgery. It is typically used either by mouth or rectally but is also available intravenously. Effects last between two and four hours. Paracetamol is classified as a mild analgesic, and is generally safe at recommended doses. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a drug class that groups together drugs that decrease pain and lower fever, and, in higher doses, decrease inflammation. The most prominent members of this group of drugs—aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac—are all available over the counter in most countries.
Caffeine consumption during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of pregnancy loss and increased risk of low birth weight, defined as below 2500 grams (5.5 pounds). The European Food Safety Authority and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concur that habitual caffeine consumption up to 200 mg per day by pregnant women does not give rise to safety concerns for the fetus. The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency had recommended that pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to less than 300 mg of caffeine a day, but in 2009 revised that downward to less than 200 mg of caffeine a day. High doses of caffeine intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage and some major negative pregnancy outcomes, such as stillbirth or low birth weight. A 2020 review called into question the safe levels proposed by the European Food Safety Authority, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the National Health Service, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It found that the current scientific evidence does not support moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy as safe, and advised pregnant women and women contemplating pregnancy to avoid caffeine.
"The single most important synthetic application of alkyl hydroperoxides is without doubt the metal-catalysed epoxidation of alkenes." In the Halcon process tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is employed for the production of propylene oxide. Of specialized interest, chiral epoxides are prepared using hydroperoxides as reagents in the Sharpless epoxidation. Hydroperoxides are intermediates in the production of many organic compounds in industry. For example, the cobalt catalyzed oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone: C6H12 + O2 → (CH2)5C=O + H2O Drying oils, as found in many paints and varnishes, function via the formation of hydroperoxides.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is a synthetic tetrapeptide built from alanine, glutamate, aspartate and glycine. The four residues are joined by standard peptide bonds, giving a linear chain rather than a branched structure.
The name derives from epithalamin, a pineal gland extract studied in the former Soviet Union. Researchers proposed that short fragments of that extract carried the biological activity of interest.
No major regulatory agency has approved it as a medicine. It is handled as a research chemical, and products sold under this name are not standardised drugs with defined clinical labelling.
The dry powder is typically held at -20 degrees Celsius or lower, protected from light and moisture. Allowing a sealed vial to reach room temperature before opening reduces condensation on its contents. Conditions stated on a supplier certificate of analysis take precedence over general guidance.