- Also known as
- Epithalon · Epithalone · Epitalone · AEDG peptide · Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
- Class
- Synthetic tetrapeptide (pineal peptide analogue)
- Form
- Lyophilised powder
- Sizes
- 10 mg
- Storage, dry
- −20 °C, dry and dark
- Storage, mixed
- 2–8 °C, use within 28 days of mixing (as generally reported for reconstituted peptides)
- BAC water per size
- 10 mg: 2 mL
What is Epitalon?
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), designed from the amino acid composition of epithalamin, a polypeptide extract of bovine pineal gland. AEDG was later reported among the tetrapeptides of the pineal polypeptide complex itself. In the published work it is described as acting on melatonin synthesis, gene expression and the enzyme telomerase, which maintains the protective ends of chromosomes. A 2025 review notes that it is uncertain whether these are its only mechanisms, and that structural and physico-chemical studies of the peptide are limited. Most of the literature is cell culture and animal work, much of it from one Russian research group led by Khavinson. The few human reports give little detail on study size or dose in their abstracts, and several newer cell studies come from independent laboratories.
What the research shows
| Study | Model | Dose used | Duration | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khavinson V et al.2002 · Neuro Endocrinol Lett · PMID 12195242 | Human, controlled clinical trial in patients with degenerative retinal lesions, with a Campbell rat model of inherited retinal degeneration; n not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | In rats, epitalon was associated with greater bioelectric and functional activity of the retina and preserved retinal structure. In patients, the authors report a positive clinical effect in 90% of cases. |
| Ivko OM et al.2020 · Adv Gerontol · PMID 33280326 | Human, middle-aged people with reduced pineal melatonin function; design and n not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | AEDG increased urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion 1.7-fold, normalised raised Clock and Csnk1e gene expression in leukocytes (1.9–2.1-fold) and doubled low Cry2 expression in lymphocytes. |
| Khavinson VKh et al.2003 · Bull Exp Biol Med · PMID 12910293 | Rat, Campbell rats with inherited retinal degeneration | Not stated in the abstract | Given to offspring after birth, and to mothers before mating and during pregnancy | Retinal structure and function were preserved about twice as long as in control rats, and 30% longer than in rats given the peptide only after birth. |
| Vinogradova IA2009 · Adv Gerontol · PMID 20405731 | Rat, ageing study under different light regimes | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | Age-related changes in thyroid-related hormones appeared later in rats given melatonin or epitalon than in controls, and both smoothed seasonal variation in thyroid hormone levels under the natural light regime of north-west Russia. |
| Khavinson VKh et al.2003 · Bull Exp Biol Med · PMID 12937682 | Cell culture (telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblasts) | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | Adding epitalon induced expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase, telomerase activity and telomere elongation. |
| Al-Dulaimi S et al.2025 · Biogerontology · PMID 40908429 | Cell culture (human breast cancer lines 21NT and BT474, normal epithelial cells and fibroblasts) | Not stated in the abstract (dose-dependent effect reported) | Not stated in the abstract | Telomere length increased with dose in normal cells through hTERT and telomerase upregulation. In the cancer cell lines, telomeres also lengthened, through ALT activation rather than telomerase. |
| Gatta M et al.2025 · Stem Cell Rev Rep · PMID 40493162 | Cell culture (human retinal pigment epithelial cells, ARPE-19, injured by high glucose) | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | Epitalon restored delayed wound closure in high-glucose-injured cells by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrosis-related changes. The authors say more work is needed to confirm benefits and safety. |
| Yue X et al.2022 · Aging (Albany NY) · PMID 35413689 | Mouse oocytes, in vitro post-ovulatory ageing model | 0.1 mM in culture medium | 6, 12 and 24 hours of culture | Epitalon reduced reactive oxygen species, lowered spindle defects and abnormal cortical granule distribution at 12 and 24 hours, raised mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced oocyte apoptosis by 24 hours. |
What these studies don't show: The two human reports do not state study size, dose or duration in their abstracts, and neither is a randomised placebo-controlled trial as far as the abstracts describe. Most of the remaining evidence is cell culture or rodent work, and much of it comes from a single Russian research group, with limited independent replication. Telomere lengthening in cultured cells, including cancer cells, does not show any effect on ageing or lifespan in people.
Every study links to its PubMed record. See all Epitalon studies in the research library →
Epitalon price in Australia: 10mg vial
Buy Epitalon (Epithalon) in Australia in a 10mg vial and a starter kit. Prices are in AUD, you pay by PayID or bank transfer, and orders are dispatched from Australian stock.
| Size | Price | Per mg | BAC water (example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | $79.99 | $8.00/mg | 2 mL |
The BAC water column is an example volume for the maths only. Open the calculator (pre-set for Epitalon).
Starter kit
Is Epitalon available in Australia?
Epitalon is not registered on the ARTG, and there is no TGA-approved product containing it. Tasman Peptides supplies it as a research chemical for laboratory research only. It is not sold for human consumption. How the TGA treats research peptides →
Side effects reported in studies
None of the epitalon abstracts in our records report adverse events or their rates, including the two human reports. A 2025 cell study notes that more work is needed to confirm both its benefits and its safety.
Reconstitution
| Vial | BAC water (example) | Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
Epitalon FAQ
Where can I buy epitalon in Australia?
Tasman Peptides supplies research-grade epitalon in Australia for laboratory research only. It comes as lyophilised powder in a 10 mg vial, each batch is tested by HPLC, and orders are dispatched from Australian stock. It is not sold for human consumption and is not a TGA-approved product.
What is epitalon studied for?
Epitalon is mostly studied in ageing research: telomerase and telomere length, melatonin production and gene expression. Other work covers the retina, including a rat model of inherited retinal degeneration and a high-glucose retinal cell model, and oocyte quality in mouse and cattle cells. Nearly all of it is cell culture or animal work, and much comes from one Russian research group.
Does epitalon lengthen telomeres?
In cell culture, yes: studies report telomere lengthening in human cells exposed to epitalon. Khavinson et al. (2003) found telomerase induction and telomere elongation in fetal fibroblasts, and Al-Dulaimi et al. (2025) found a dose-dependent increase in normal cells. The 2025 study also saw lengthening in breast cancer cell lines. No study here measured telomeres in people.
Is epitalon the same as epithalon?
Yes, epitalon and epithalon are two spellings of the same peptide, and epithalone and epitalone are also used. All refer to the synthetic tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, often shortened to AEDG. It should not be confused with epithalamin, the bovine pineal extract whose amino acid composition it was based on.
Has epitalon been tested in humans?
Only in small reports whose abstracts give little detail. A 2002 report describes a positive clinical effect in 90% of patients with degenerative retinal lesions, and a 2020 report found a 1.7-fold rise in a urinary melatonin marker. Neither abstract states the number of participants, the dose or a placebo comparison.
Is epitalon legal in Australia?
Epitalon is not registered on the ARTG, and there is no TGA-approved product containing it. Tasman Peptides supplies it as a research chemical for laboratory use only. It is not sold for human consumption.
What doses have epitalon studies used?
Almost no epitalon abstract in our records states a dose. The only stated amount is 0.1 mM in culture medium, used by Yue et al. (2022) on mouse oocytes in vitro. The human reports and the rat studies do not give an amount in their abstracts, so there is no published figure to report here.
How much is epitalon per mg?
Epitalon is sold in one size, a 10 mg vial, and the current price is shown in the size table on this page. Dividing the vial price by 10 gives the price per mg. The starter kit is priced separately.
Is there an epitalon starter kit?
Yes, there is an epitalon starter kit. It is built around the 10 mg vial, and the kit page lists exactly what it includes. Like the vial, it is supplied for laboratory research only.
How should epitalon be stored?
Store the dry powder at −20 °C, sealed, dry and away from light. Once reconstituted, keep it at 2–8 °C and use it within 28 days, as is generally reported for reconstituted peptides. As a neutral maths default, the site's calculator uses 2 mL of bacteriostatic water for the 10 mg vial.
