Epithalamine (Epitalon): Complete Research Guide with Telomerase Data and Where to Buy

May 27, 2026
9:02 am

What Is Epithalamine (Epitalon)?

Epithalamine — known in research literature as epitalon or epithalon — is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed by the research team of Vladimir Khavinson at the Institute of Biogerontology, St. Petersburg, based on the active peptide fraction of the natural pineal gland extract epithalamin. As a synthetic analog of the pineal bioregulator, epitalon has been studied for over 30 years in the context of aging biology, with particular emphasis on its ability to activate telomerase — the enzyme responsible for maintaining telomere length, the molecular clock of cellular aging.

Search volume for “epithalamine tablets” and related terms reflects consistent research interest, with the compound occupying a unique niche as a peptide bioregulator with documented effects on telomerase, melatonin production, and lifespan in multiple model organisms.

Mechanism of Action

Telomerase Activation: Upregulates TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) gene expression, increasing telomerase enzymatic activity — documented in multiple cell lines including human somatic cells and fibroblasts
Telomere Elongation: Telomerase activation enables telomere length maintenance or restoration in cells approaching senescence, a mechanism directly relevant to the Hayflick limit and cellular aging
Pineal Gland Regulation: Influences pineal epithelial cell function, restoring age-related decline in melatonin production — the primary geroprotective hormone of the pineal gland
Antioxidant Induction: Increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activity, reducing oxidative stress burden at the cellular level
Circadian Rhythm Restoration: Through melatonin normalization, supports circadian gene expression (CLOCK, BMAL1) whose dysregulation accelerates aging
Gene Expression: Downregulates pro-inflammatory and oncogene-associated transcripts; upregulates DNA repair and longevity-associated gene expression

Key Research Data

Telomerase and Telomere Research

Khavinson et al. (Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2003): Epitalon increased telomerase activity in human fetal fibroblasts and somatic cells by ~33% vs. control cultures
Extended replicative lifespan of human cell cultures by 3–4 additional cell divisions beyond normal Hayflick limit
Significant telomere lengthening documented in epitalon-treated cell populations vs. untreated aging controls

Longevity Studies in Model Organisms

Melanocyte mouse model: Epitalon extended maximum lifespan by ~25% and increased average lifespan by ~13% vs. controls
Rat studies (Khavinson et al.): Epitalon-treated rats showed 28-33% reduction in cancer incidence, improved estrous cycle maintenance with aging, and reduced chromosomal aberration rates
Drosophila melanogaster: Epitalon extended median lifespan by ~11% in multiple independent experiments

Melatonin and Circadian Research

Restored nocturnal melatonin secretion peaks in aged rodents to levels comparable to young adults
Normalized disrupted circadian cortisol rhythms in aged models
Melatonin normalization correlated with improved immune function markers in aging studies

Oncology-Adjacent Research

Reduced spontaneous mammary tumor incidence in HER-2/neu transgenic mice
Attenuated carcinogen-induced colon tumorigenesis in rodent models
Proposed mechanism: melatonin restoration reduces estrogen-driven tumor promotion

Dosage Reference for Research

Research Context	Dose	Route	Duration
Cell culture (telomerase)	0.1–10 µM	Culture media	Acute or multi-day
Rodent (longevity)	0.1–1 mg/kg	SC injection	10-day courses, repeated
Russian clinical protocols	10 mg/day	SC or IM	10 consecutive days, 1–2×/year

Epitalon Research Products

HPLC Verified

Epithalon (Epitalon) 50mg

Purity: 99%+ HPLC

Format: Lyophilized Powder

Testing: Third-Party COA

$480

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HPLC Verified

Epithalon (Epitalon) 100mg

Purity: 99%+ HPLC

Format: Bulk Lyophilized

Testing: Third-Party COA

$900