# Epitalon

> Synthetic tetrapeptide investigated for telomerase activity and circadian effects.

- Also known as: Epithalon, Epithalamin fragment
- Class: Longevity
- FDA approved: No
- Canonical page: https://www.americanpeptide.com/catalog/epitalon

## Overview

Epitalon is a synthetic four-amino-acid peptide derived from the pineal peptide epithalamin. Russian-led clinical work has reported effects on melatonin secretion and lifespan endpoints in rodent models.

Epitalon (epithalon) is a synthetic four-amino-acid peptide modeled on epithalamin, a peptide extract of the pineal gland. It emerged from Russian gerontology research, where the pineal axis is studied as a regulator of aging and circadian rhythm.

Russian-led studies have reported effects on melatonin secretion, telomerase activity, and lifespan endpoints in animal models. The evidence base is concentrated in that research tradition, independent replication is limited, and Epitalon is not FDA-approved.

## Mechanism

Reported telomerase upregulation; pineal-axis modulation.

## Chemistry

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Molecular formula | C14H22N4O9 |
| Molecular weight | 390.4 Da |
| CAS number | 307297-39-8 |
| PubChem CID | [219042](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/219042) |

## Sequence

```
AEDG
```

## Research areas

Studied in: Aging biology, Circadian biology, Pineal function.

Guides on this site:

- [Sleep & Circadian Rhythm](https://www.americanpeptide.com/research-areas/sleep-circadian): Peptides studied for sleep architecture and circadian regulation.
- [Longevity & Aging](https://www.americanpeptide.com/research-areas/longevity-aging): Peptides studied across the aging axis — senescence, NAD+, and resilience.

## Key research

- Telomerase upregulation — studies report increased expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit and telomere elongation in human somatic cells (Khavinson, Bondarev & Butyugov, 2003).
- Replicative lifespan — the originating study extended human fetal fibroblast lifespan beyond the Hayflick limit without signs of malignant transformation.
- Circadian / pineal function — examined for effects on melatonin secretion via the pineal axis.
- Compared to other longevity peptides — a distinct mechanism: Epitalon targets telomere maintenance, where thymosin α-1 works through immune modulation and MOTS-c through mitochondrial / metabolic regulation.
- Evidence quality — concentrated in a single research tradition (the Khavinson group); large independent Western RCTs are not available.

## FAQs

### What is Epitalon?

Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide derived from a pineal extract (epithalamin), studied in aging and circadian research, largely in animal models.

### What is it studied for?

Reported effects include telomerase activity, melatonin regulation, and lifespan endpoints, primarily in Russian-led preclinical work.

### How strong is the evidence?

It is concentrated in a specific research tradition with limited independent replication, so findings should be treated as preliminary.

### Is it approved?

No — it is a research compound. This page is a research and educational reference.

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Source: AmericanPeptide.com — https://www.americanpeptide.com/catalog/epitalon
Data license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Attribution: AmericanPeptide.com.
Research reference only — computational and educational content, not medical advice.