Overview
Epithalon (Epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide derived from the polypeptide extract epithalamin, originally isolated from bovine pineal gland.
Mechanism
Long-running Russian research programs report increased telomerase activity in human somatic cells in vitro, normalization of melatonin rhythms in older animals, and lifespan effects in rodent and Drosophila models. Independent replication outside the original groups remains limited.
Notes for the lab
Epithalon is highly water-soluble. Reconstituted vials are typically kept at 2–8 °C for short-term work; freeze aliquots for longer storage to limit deamidation of the glutamate residues.