Overview of Epitalon-Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing preclinical, in vitro, and animal research with no new human data
PubMed 40141333 · doi:10.3390/ijms26062691
What was done
Narrative review synthesizing 25 years of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies on the biological, pharmacodynamic, and physicochemical properties of Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), a synthetic pineal tetrapeptide.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative measurements or effect sizes. It reports that preclinical studies attribute geroprotective, neuroprotective, antioxidant, and antimutagenic properties to Epitalon, noting specific actions on melatonin synthesis, interleukin-2 mRNA levels, thymocyte mitogenic activity, and enhanced activity of telomerase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase.
Why it matters
Provides an overview of research on a prominent pineal peptide while highlighting persistent gaps in structural and physicochemical characterization.
Limits
The abstract describes a non-systematic narrative review with no human clinical trial outcomes, no quantitative data, and no assessment of study risk of bias.
Cited by
- supports Epithalon is derived from pineal gland extract, whereas Pinealon is derived from cortex extract (Cortexin).
- supports Epitalon is a tetrapeptide with the amino acid sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG).