Epitalon references and the test in each paper
Use this list to see who did the work, what kind of test they ran, and which questions the paper left open.
The Epitalon source list lets you check every claim
A sleep or aging claim needs its paper. Match its number to the paper below.
Each entry gives the title, authors, year, and link. PubMed numbers and DOIs are labels that help you or your doctor find one paper.
Most early papers came from Khavinson's group in Russia. A few human reports only watched people, and chance didn't set their groups.
Early papers said Epitalon made protective chromosome ends longer in cells. Chromosomes carry DNA, and outside labs began checking that claim in 2024-2025.
I'd first ask whether the paper followed people, tested animals, or used cells, because that helps you judge how closely its finding might fit your own body and daily life. Many human reports tested the older cattle-gland mix.
- Khavinson VK, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003;135(6):590-592. ↗
- Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG. Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003;24(3-4):233-240. ↗
- Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, Provinciali M, et al. Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female Swiss-derived SHR mice. Biogerontology. 2003;4(4):193-202. ↗
- Araj SK, Brzezik J, Mądra-Gackowska K, Szeleszczuk Ł. Overview of Epitalon — Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(6):2691. ↗
- Araj SK, Brzezik J, Mądra-Gackowska K, Szeleszczuk Ł. Overview of Epitalon — Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties (safety and characterization limits). Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(6):2691. ↗
- Khavinson VKh, Linkova NS, Kvetnoy IM, et al. Molecular cellular mechanisms of peptide regulation of melatonin synthesis in pinealocyte culture. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2012;153(2):255-258. ↗
- Khavinson VKh, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA, Smirnova TD. Peptide promotes overcoming of the division limit in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004;137(5):503-506. ↗
- Al-Dulaimi S, Thomas R, Matta S, Roberts T. Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity. Biogerontology. 2025;26(5):178. ↗
- Khavinson VKh, Razumovsky M, et al. Pineal-regulating tetrapeptide epitalon improves eye retina condition in retinitis pigmentosa. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002;23(4):365-368. ↗
- Kossoy G, Anisimov VN, et al. Epitalon and colon carcinogenesis in rats: proliferative activity and apoptosis in colon tumors and mucosa. Int J Mol Med. 2003;12(4):473-477. ↗
- Anisimov VN, et al. Effect of epitalon and melatonin on life span and spontaneous carcinogenesis in senescence accelerated mice (SAM). Vopr Onkol. 2005;51(1):93-98. ↗
- Kossoy G, Anisimov VN, Ben-Hur H, et al. Inhibitory effect of peptide Epitalon on colon carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in rats. Cancer Lett. 2002;183(1):1-4. ↗
- Comparative study of the effects of melatonin and epitalon on the protracted memory under the shuttle labyrinth test conditions. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2006;69(4):13-15. ↗
- Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, Provinciali M, et al. Inhibitory effect of the peptide epitalon on the development of spontaneous mammary tumors in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. Int J Cancer. 2002;101(1):7-10. ↗
- Korkushko OV, Shatilo VB, Khavinson VKh, et al. Geroprotective effect of epithalamine (pineal gland peptide preparation) in elderly subjects with accelerated aging. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2006;142(1):73-77. ↗