A practical reference on Epithalamin: what it is, how it behaves, what the literature reports, and where the honest uncertainties sit.
Reviewed 2025-11-19. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
Identity and purity of epitalon samples are normally established by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection near 214 nanometres, combined with mass spectrometry. The mass spectrum confirms the expected molecular ion and can reveal truncated or oxidised by-products. Amino acid analysis after acid hydrolysis verifies that the four residues are present in the expected ratio. Certificates typically report a purity figure taken from chromatographic peak area, expressed as a percentage of total integrated signal.
Lyophilised epitalon is generally held at minus twenty degrees Celsius in a sealed container kept dry and dark. Cooler conditions are sometimes recommended for long-term archives. The solid takes up moisture readily enough that repeated opening of a vial introduces water, so dividing a batch into smaller portions before storage lowers degradation risk. Aqueous solutions are less durable than the dry powder and are usually prepared shortly before use, then kept cold and shielded from light to slow hydrolysis and oxidation.
Verification of research-grade material involves comparing a supplier chromatogram against an in-house reference, checking the observed mass against the calculated value, and where possible confirming residue order by tandem mass spectrometry or enzymatic peptide mapping. Purity claims should be read alongside the method used to obtain them, because detection wavelength and integration settings alter the result. Batch-specific data, rather than a generic grade statement, is the informative part of a certificate.
The compound is generally presented as a synthetic fragment of epithalamin, a pineal gland extract investigated in the former Soviet Union from the 1970s onward. Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues in Saint Petersburg developed short peptides modelled on such extracts, and epitalon became the most widely cited of those sequences. Most primary reports appeared in Russian-language journals or in proceedings with limited international circulation. Independent replication in laboratories outside that network remains sparse, and much repeated secondary material traces back to a small number of originating groups.
Laboratory work has examined effects on telomerase activity in cultured cells, on melatonin rhythms in animals, and on markers of oxidative stress. Some experiments report measurable changes while others show none, and the reported findings rest largely on small studies. The absence of large independent trials means the generality of these results is unresolved rather than settled. Review articles occasionally apply the label geroprotector, a term that reflects a research hypothesis about ageing rather than an established clinical finding.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical purity specification | 95 percent or higher by HPLC area | Higher grades are also offered |
| Primary analytical method | Reversed-phase HPLC, UV detection | Frequently paired with mass spectrometry |
| Confirmatory technique | Electrospray mass spectrometry | Observed mass compared with theory |
| Storage temperature | Minus 20 degrees Celsius, dry powder | Sealed, desiccated, protected from light |
| Solution handling | Prepare fresh before use | Hydrolysis proceeds in aqueous media |
Material sold for research use varies widely in documented quality. A useful verification package includes a certificate of analysis that states peptide content rather than only net weight, the chromatographic method and column used, and a mass spectrum consistent with the expected mass. Independent testing by a third-party laboratory is occasionally reported. Statements of identity resting only on a supplier label provide little assurance, and the gap between nominal mass and actual peptide content can be substantial once counterions and residual water are counted.
Peptides of this size are generally stable as dry solids but degrade in solution over time. The principal routes are hydrolysis of the peptide backbone and oxidation, with hydrolysis favoured by elevated temperature and extreme pH. Aqueous solutions held at room temperature can show measurable loss of purity within days, while frozen aliquots are considerably more durable. Because the sequence contains neither cysteine nor methionine, oxidation is less of a concern than for many other peptides, but pH control during handling still matters.
Typical storage for the lyophilized powder is −20 °C or lower, in a sealed container protected from light and moisture. Hygroscopic material should be allowed to equilibrate to room temperature before the vial is opened, which limits condensation on the contents. Working solutions are commonly divided into single-use aliquots and frozen to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Dilute solutions are more prone to adsorption onto plastic surfaces and to loss during filtration, so procedures that minimize transfers and use low-binding labware are preferable.
The parent extract epithalamin was characterised as a low-molecular-weight fraction of pineal tissue rather than a single defined chemical entity. Researchers fractionated it and tested successive fragments for activity, a screening approach typical of peptide discovery work in that era. Epitalon emerged from that process as one of the shorter sequences of interest. Because the original extract was never fully resolved into individual components, claims about which constituent drives a given effect rest on inference. This distinction matters when reading older reports that attribute extract observations to the tetrapeptide itself.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the residue sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, commonly abbreviated AEDG. Its monoisotopic mass is approximately 390.35 daltons, and it is usually supplied as a lyophilised trifluoroacetate or acetate salt. The compound was derived from a pineal gland extract called epithalamin, a heterogeneous preparation investigated in the former Soviet Union. Researchers associated with the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology described the tetrapeptide as a constituent fragment of that extract. Commercial material is offered as a laboratory reagent rather than as a finished pharmaceutical product.
Literature searches for this compound must account for several spelling variants. Indexing databases contain epitalon, epithalon, epithalone, and AEDG, and relevant records are scattered across Russian-language and English-language journals that do not consistently cross-cite. Early publications describe the parent extract as a mixture of many peptides, whereas later work addresses the single synthetic tetrapeptide. That shift in nomenclature complicates comparison between studies, because extract data and tetrapeptide data are sometimes cited interchangeably. A search strategy omitting the alternate spellings will return an incomplete set of references.
Epitalon emerged from research conducted in Saint Petersburg by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues, who studied short peptides as potential regulators of aging. The work built on epithalamin, a pineal gland extract reported to influence neuroendocrine function. Epitalon was designed as a synthetic counterpart with a defined sequence, allowing reproducible experiments that extracts could not support. Early publications described effects on melatonin rhythms and lifespan in animal models. These findings circulated mainly in Russian-language journals during the 1990s, which limited their visibility among English-speaking researchers.
The most widely cited claim is that epitalon activates telomerase and thereby extends telomere length. Supporting evidence comes largely from cultured human cells, where treatment was associated with increased telomerase activity and delayed replicative senescence. Telomerase activation is a biologically consequential effect, since the enzyme is largely silenced in most somatic cells. However, the route by which a short peptide would reach and act on the enzyme's regulatory machinery has not been established. Independent replication in human trials is scarce, so the link between cell-culture observations and whole-body aging remains an open question.
Human data are limited to small studies, often without the randomization, blinding, or control groups expected in contemporary clinical research. Reported outcomes have included changes in melatonin levels, immune markers, and subjective measures, but sample sizes were generally too small to support firm conclusions. Some reviews treat the peptide as promising while noting methodological weaknesses; others question whether the observed effects are specific. The compound is frequently discussed in longevity-focused communities, where enthusiasm often outpaces the published evidence. Separating established findings from speculation is therefore important when reading summaries of this research.
==== Biological extraction ==== Biological separations usually involve low concentration high volume samples. This can pose an issue for digital microfluidics due to the small sample volume necessary. Digital microfluidic systems can be combined with a macrofluidic system designed to decrease sample volume, in turn increasing analyte concentration. It follows the same principles as the magnetic particles for separation, but includes pumping of the droplet to cycle a larger volume of fluid around the magnetic particles. Extraction of drug analytes from dried urine samples has also been reported. A droplet of extraction solvent, in this case methanol, is repeatedly flowed over a sample of dried urine sample then moved to a final electrode where the liquid is extracted through a capillary and then analyzed using mass spectrometry.
VR-1065 is a serotonin 5-HT2C receptor agonist which was under development for the treatment of obesity but was never marketed. Its pharmacology has not been described. The drug was under development by Roche and Vernalis Group. It reached phase 1 clinical trials prior to the discontinuation of its development in 2002. The drug's development was discontinued due to suboptimal pharmacokinetics in phase 1 trials. The chemical structure of VR-1065 has not been disclosed.
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Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is a solid-liquid extractive technique, by which compounds that are dissolved or suspended in a liquid mixture are separated, isolated or purified, from other compounds in this mixture, according to their physical and chemical properties. Analytical laboratories use solid phase extraction to concentrate and purify samples for analysis. Solid phase extraction can be used to isolate analytes of interest from a wide variety of matrices, including urine, blood, water, beverages, soil, and animal tissue. SPE uses the affinity of solutes, dissolved or suspended in a liquid (known as the mobile phase), to a solid packing inside a small column, through which the sample is passed (known as the stationary phase), to separate a mixture into desired and undesired components. The result is that either the desired analytes of interest or undesired impurities in the sample are retained on the stationary phase. The portion that passes through the stationary phase is collected or discarded, depending on whether it contains the desired analytes or undesired impurities. If the portion retained on the stationary phase includes the desired analytes, they can then be removed from the stationary phase for collection in an additional step, in which the stationary phase is rinsed with an appropriate eluent. It is possible to have an incomplete recovery of the analytes by SPE caused by incomplete extraction or elution. In the case of an incomplete extraction, the analytes do not have enough affinity for the stationary phase and part of them will remain in the permeate.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
To enhance sensitivity, the secondary capillary of the nano-DESI probe can be equipped with a nebulizer, which takes benefit of the Venturi effect, facilitating the aspiration of the liquid. This enables the secondary probe to be longer, while still maintaining stable electrospray, thereby simplifying the setup process. Moreover, it offers greater versatility in nano-DESI solvent selection, allowing water to be used as an extraction solvent. This expands the technique’s chemical coverage and enhances the customization of solvent components for selective extraction of polar compounds. Additionally, the capillaries can be integrated into a custom 3D-printed cassette, creating a convenient plug-and-play device.
may be read as the average number of infections caused by a single infectious subject in a wholly susceptible population, the above relationship biologically means that if this number is less than or equal to one the disease goes extinct, whereas if this number is greater than one the disease will remain permanently endemic in the population.
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Sources: en.wikipedia.org
The usual approach is reversed-phase HPLC with ultraviolet detection, reported as a percentage of total peak area. Mass spectrometry is used alongside chromatography to confirm identity rather than purity alone.
The dry powder is commonly kept at minus twenty degrees Celsius, desiccated and away from light. Solutions are generally prepared fresh because they break down faster than the solid form.
Tandem mass spectrometry or enzymatic peptide mapping can establish residue order. A single intact mass value indicates composition and molecular weight but not always the precise arrangement of residues.
It is a four-amino-acid peptide with the sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine. The chain is unmodified and contains only standard proteinogenic residues, which makes it straightforward to produce by solid-phase synthesis and to characterise by standard peptide methods.