What Is Epithalon (Epitalon)?
Epithalon — also spelled Epitalon — is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) studied in preclinical longevity research. It is not an FDA-approved drug.
The short answer
Epithalon is a four-amino-acid peptide developed as a synthetic version of a pineal-gland extract called Epithalamin. In the research literature it is studied for telomerase-associated and circadian/pineal signaling. The two spellings — Epithalon and Epitalon — refer to the same compound.
Composition and specifications
| Compound | Epithalon / Epitalon |
|---|---|
| Class | Synthetic tetrapeptide (Epithalamin analog) |
| Also known as | AEDG · CAS 307297-39-8 |
| Sequence / length | Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG) |
| CAS number | 307297-39-8 |
| Molecular weight | 390.35 g/mol |
| Purity (typical) | ≥99.3% |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder; water-soluble |
Values above reflect the compound's published specification. As with any research material, the definitive confirmation of identity and purity for a given lot is the mass-spectrometry and HPLC data on its Certificate of Analysis.
How it is described mechanistically
Epithalon is characterized in research as associated with activation of telomerase — the enzyme that maintains telomere length — and with pineal/circadian signaling. These associations come largely from cell-culture and animal models, and the mechanistic picture in humans is not established.
What has research examined?
Published Epithalon work is preclinical, much of it from a single research lineage. Areas examined include:
- Telomerase-activation research models
- Cellular-senescence and aging models
- Pineal-gland and melatonin/circadian research
- Comparisons with the parent Epithalamin extract
Much of the Epithalon literature comes from a limited set of investigators; independent replication is more limited than for many peptides. Read the claims as research directions, not established outcomes.
How is it characterized and tested?
Two questions matter most about any peptide sample in a research context: is it the right molecule, and how pure is it. Those are answered by analytical testing — commonly mass spectrometry for identity and HPLC for purity — with both reported on a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA). An independent, published COA lets a researcher confirm identity and purity before beginning work. See peptide handling and storage for how samples are kept stable once received.
Primary literature: browse peer-reviewed studies on Epithalon at PubMed.
Common questions
Is it spelled Epithalon or Epitalon?
Both spellings refer to the same synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly). 'Epitalon' and 'Epithalon' are used interchangeably across the literature and the market.
Is Epithalon approved for human use?
No. Epithalon is not an FDA-approved drug. Research-grade material is for laboratory research use only.
What is Epithalon studied for?
Primarily telomerase-associated and pineal/circadian signaling in preclinical models. These are research directions, not demonstrated human effects.