The peptide Epitalon (Epithalon; AEDG, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) has been studied for its effects on melatonin production and circadian rhythm regulation, particularly in aging models, but current evidence does not support Epitalon as a treatment for insomnia, nor does it prove that it improves sleep quality, duration, REM sleep, deep sleep, or daytime functioning in humans. [1–6]
The connection between Epitalon and sleep is biologically plausible, but often presented too broadly. Epitalon was developed as part of research into pineal peptides, and the pineal gland is the primary source of melatonin, a hormone involved in signaling biological night and coordinating circadian rhythms. Therefore, experimental studies on Epitalon have analyzed melatonin synthesis, pineal cell signaling, age-related changes in circadian rhythm, cortisol rhythms, and responses to abnormal lighting conditions. [1–6]
However, available studies mainly measure melatonin concentration or circadian endocrine markers, rather than sleep itself. This distinction is crucial. A substance can affect melatonin secretion without necessarily impacting insomnia, sleep efficiency, night awakenings, REM phase, slow-wave sleep, or the degree of restfulness the next day.
The most justified conclusion is that Epitalon exhibits a research signal related to the biology of the pineal gland and circadian rhythm, particularly in aging models, but direct clinical evidence regarding sleep improvement remains insufficient. [1–6]
Does Epitalon Affect Sleep?
Epitalon may indirectly influence biological processes related to sleep, as changes in melatonin production and circadian hormonal rhythms have been observed in experimental studies. However, a direct effect on sleep has not been adequately demonstrated in humans, and published studies do not confirm a reliable improvement in insomnia, sleep duration and efficiency, REM sleep, deep sleep, or subjective sleep quality. [1–6]
A significant portion of the popular connection between Epitalon and sleep stems from research on melatonin.
Melatonin is produced mainly by the pineal gland during the biological night. Its secretion remains under the strict control of the circadian system and the light-dark cycle. Because Epitalon was developed as part of a research program on pineal peptides and has been shown in several experiments to affect melatonin-related parameters, it is sometimes referred to as a sleep peptide. [3–6]
However, such a description goes beyond the available evidence.
The most important Epitalon studies relating to this issue typically analyzed one of four parameters: melatonin production by cultured pineal cells, melatonin secretion by isolated pineal glands, plasma melatonin rhythms in aging rhesus monkeys, or plasma melatonin patterns in elderly individuals. [1–6]
None of these parameters is equivalent to a comprehensive sleep study.
A contemporary clinical sleep study typically evaluates parameters such as total sleep time, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, nocturnal awakenings, REM sleep duration, slow-wave sleep, daytime sleepiness, insomnia severity, or patient-reported sleep quality. Depending on the research question, polysomnography, actigraphy, validated sleep questionnaires, or circadian phase markers may also be used.
Available evidence regarding Epitalon does not include a modern randomized human trial demonstrating improvement in these parameters.
Therefore, Epitalon should not be described as a proven sleep aid solely because higher nighttime melatonin levels were observed in some experiments.
A broader discussion of the involved biological pathways can be found in the article Mechanism of Action of Epitalon: How Does This Peptide Work?
Can Epitalon Affect Melatonin Production?
Yes, Epitalon affected biological processes related to melatonin in experimental studies: in rat pinealocyte culture, it increased AANAT, pCREB, and melatonin, and in studies of aging rhesus macaques, higher evening or night melatonin levels were observed. However, an experiment on the isolated rat pineal gland showed no effect on melatonin secretion, so the results are biologically interesting but not fully consistent. [1–5]
The most direct mechanistic evidence comes from cultured rat pinealocytes.
Khavinson and colleagues studied Epithalon and Vilon in rat pineal cells, measuring aryloalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB). AANAT is an important enzyme in the melatonin synthesis pathway, while CREB-mediated transcription is involved in regulating the pineal gland’s response to adrenergic signaling.
In this 2012 in vitro study using animal cells, Epithalon stimulated the synthesis of AANAT and pCREB and increased melatonin concentrations in the culture medium. The addition of norepinephrine along with the peptides further enhanced the expression of AANAT and pCREB. [1]
This result provides biologically plausible molecular evidence of a link between Epitalon and melatonin synthesis.
A 2025 review of Epitalon further indicates that in this experiment on pinealocytes, the peptide exhibited a more prolonged effect than Vilon and remained particularly active at a later measurement point.
However, another experiment yielded different results.
Djeridane and co-workers studied isolated, perfused pineal glands of young and old male Wistar rats. AEDG was tested at concentrations ranging from 10^-6 to 10^-4 M. The researchers found no significant effect on basal melatonin secretion, regardless of the animals' age. [2]
The pineal glands were also stimulated with isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist that normally increases melatonin secretion. Epitalon did not significantly alter this stimulated melatonin response either. [2]
The two related in vitro systems thus yielded different results:
| Experimental model | Result | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cultured rat pinealocytes | Increases in AANAT, pCREB, and melatonin | In vitro evidence from animal cells [1] |
| Isolated pineal glands from young and old rats | No significant increase in basal melatonin secretion | In vitro evidence from an isolated organ [2] |
| Isolated pineal glands + isoproterenol | No significant change in stimulated melatonin secretion | In vitro evidence from an isolated organ [2] |
| Aging rhesus macaques | Increase in evening/nighttime melatonin levels | Evidence in non-human primates [3–5] |
| Observations in Older Adults | An increase in nighttime melatonin levels, primarily in individuals with lower baseline pineal gland function | Limited evidence in humans [6] |
This inconsistency does not necessarily mean that either of the experiments was flawed. Cultured pinealocytes and the intact perfused pineal gland differ in cellular organization, signaling environment, exposure conditions, and feedback mechanisms.
However, this means that the statement „Epitalon always stimulates melatonin production” is not fully supported by the available evidence.
What Is the Relationship Between Epitalon and the Pineal Gland?
Epitalon is closely related to pineal gland research because the synthetic tetrapeptide AEDG was developed based on the amino acid composition of Epithalamin, a peptide preparation derived from the bovine pineal gland, and AEDG was later identified in the pineal polypeptide complex. Subsequently, experimental studies analyzed whether Epitalon could modify age-related functions of the pineal gland and melatonin. [7]
The connection to the pineal gland is both historical and biological.
Before Epitalon was developed, researchers, including Vladimir Khavinson and Vladimir Anisimov, studied Epithalamin, a mixture of peptides derived from bovine pineal gland tissue. Epitalon was later synthesized as the specific sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG) based on research related to this preparation. [7]
A subsequent analytical study identified AEDG among the peptides present in the pineal gland polypeptide complex, supporting a link between the synthetic tetrapeptide and the original pineal gland research program. [7]
This story prompted scientists to investigate several issues related to the function of the pineal gland.
One of them was to determine whether Epitalon could modify melatonin synthesis. Another was to determine whether it could affect age-related changes in circadian hormonal rhythms. The morphology of the pineal gland, stress-related signaling, light-dependent effects of aging, and the relationships between pineal function and other hormonal systems were also studied. [1–6]
The aspect related to aging is of particular importance.
Several older experiments demonstrated that older rhesus macaques had lower nocturnal melatonin levels than young animals. Following the experimental administration of Epitalon, nocturnal or evening melatonin concentrations increased in the older animals. [3–5]
These results led researchers to describe Epitalon as a potential modulator of age-related pineal gland dysfunction rather than as a conventional sleeping pill or sedative.
This distinction matters.
It has not been shown that Epitalon acts like a direct melatonin supplement, benzodiazepines, orexin antagonists, sedative antihistamines, or other established sleep-affecting substances. The available literature rather suggests a possible regulation of biological systems affecting melatonin production.
More information about the origin and terminology of Epitalon can be found in the article What Is Epitalon Peptide? Definition, Names, and Sequence.
Has Epitalon Been Studied for Circadian Rhythm Regulation?
Yes. Epitalon has been studied in the context of circadian rhythm and chronobiology, particularly in aging rhesus macaques and animal models subjected to abnormal lighting conditions. Several studies have observed changes in melatonin, cortisol, or other biological circadian rhythms; however, these results do not support the treatment of human circadian rhythm sleep disorders. [3–6,8]
The circadian rhythm is an approximately 24-hour biological cycle coordinated by the body's internal clocks and synchronized by environmental cues, primarily light.
Sleep remains strongly influenced by the circadian rhythm, but sleep and the circadian rhythm are not the same thing. The circadian system helps determine when the body is biologically prepared for sleep or wakefulness, whereas sleep itself also depends on mounting sleep pressure, behavior, environment, health status, medications, and numerous neuronal systems.
Epitalon research on circadian rhythm focused primarily on hormonal rhythms.
In a study on non-human primates, Epithalon increased evening melatonin levels in old female rhesus macaques and normalized certain aspects of the circadian cortisol secretion rhythm. [3]
A related study involving 38 female Macaca mulatta included 18 younger monkeys aged 6–8 years and 20 older monkeys aged 20–26 years. The researchers observed a clear circadian rhythm of melatonin and analyzed age-related disorders and responses to pineal peptide preparations, including Epitalon. [4]
Another study on old rhesus macaques showed lower nocturnal melatonin levels associated with aging and noted that Epitalon administration increased baseline nocturnal melatonin levels in older animals, whereas young animals did not show the same hormonal response. [5]
This age dependence is significant.
The evidence does not point to a simple, universal answer in which Epitalon unconditionally increases melatonin in every biological state. Instead, several researchers have interpreted its action as normalizing or regulatory, particularly under conditions of age-related reduced pineal gland function. [5,6]
Other rodent studies have analyzed Epitalon under altered lighting cycles and experimental disruptions of neuroendocrine circadian rhythms. These studies support the chronobiological hypothesis, but they still remain preclinical animal studies rather than proof that Epitalon treats jet lag, delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, shift work disorder, or other clinical circadian rhythm disorders.
What Do Human Studies Say About Sleep?
Evidence from human studies does not show a direct benefit of Epitalon for sleep. The most relevant older study showed changes in nighttime melatonin levels and the circadian rhythm of melatonin in older adults, particularly those with reduced pineal gland function, but it did not provide contemporary controlled evidence for the improvement of insomnia, sleep architecture, sleep duration, or quality. [6]
The most important publication regarding humans is the 2007 work by Korkushko and colleagues on pineal peptides in old monkeys and elderly individuals.
The authors described an age-related decrease in nocturnal and mean daily plasma melatonin concentrations, as well as a reduction in the amplitude of the circadian melatonin rhythm. They then demonstrated that the pineal peptide preparations Epithalamin and Epitalon restored the nocturnal concentration of endogenous melatonin and showed a tendency to normalize its circadian rhythm. [6]
In elderly individuals identified as having functional pineal insufficiency, the authors noted an increase in nocturnal melatonin concentration after treatment. [6]
This constitutes an interesting endocrine signal in humans, but several limitations prevent it from being considered strong evidence regarding the treatment of sleep disorders.
First, the abstract discusses both Epithalamin and Epitalon. These substances are historically related, but they are not chemically identical. Epithalamin is a complex pineal peptide preparation, whereas Epitalon is a defined AEDG tetrapeptide.
Secondly, the publication does not include in the abstract the level of methodological detail expected of a modern sleep study, including clearly described randomization, placebo control, blinding, the number of participants specifically assigned to individual interventions, pre-defined sleep endpoints, and comprehensive monitoring of adverse events. [6]
Thirdly, the primary endpoint discussed is melatonin physiology, not clinical sleep.
The available study does not confirm changes in polysomnographic parameters such as sleep stages, REM latency, slow-wave sleep, arousal index, total sleep time, or sleep efficiency.
The authors stated that in their study no adverse events related to the preparations were observed. [6] This historical observation should not be interpreted as evidence of general or long-term safety, as the available reporting method and sample characteristics do not allow for the assessment of rare or chronic adverse events.
Therefore, there is limited direct evidence in humans regarding changes in nocturnal melatonin levels, but insufficient clinical evidence regarding improvements in sleep.
Should Epitalon Be Taken in the Morning or Evening?
There is no evidence-based recommendation stating that Epitalon should be taken in the morning or evening to improve sleep, as no adequately controlled human study has established the optimal time of administration, sleep-related dosing schedule, or chronotherapeutic protocol. Timing used in animal studies and laboratory experiments cannot be safely translated into instructions for personal use.
This is an area where online advice often goes beyond the published evidence.
Intuitively, it may seem reasonable that a melatonin-related peptide should be administered in the evening. However, biological plausibility is not a dosage recommendation.
Available studies do not show that evening administration has a better effect on sleep in humans than morning administration.
It has also not been established that morning administration is more beneficial.
Literature concerning Epitalon covers very diverse experimental systems. In some studies, pineal gland cells were directly exposed to the peptide. [1] Other studies measured melatonin at different times of day in animals. [3–5] Still others analyzed chronic administration under controlled light–dark cycle conditions.
These projects served to study biological mechanisms, not to compare morning and evening administration in the treatment of human insomnia.
Evening or nighttime melatonin outcome measures have also been reported in studies on non-human primates, but measuring the outcome at night does not mean that the optimal time for administering the test substance is at night.
Therefore, statements such as „take Epitalon before sleep,” „use it in the morning,” or „nighttime dosing is scientifically proven” are not supported by the analyzed evidence.
The same restriction applies to the query „Epithalon dosage for sleep.” No clinically validated Epitalon dosage or administration regimen for the treatment of insomnia has been established; therefore, experimental doses used in animals or concentrations used in cell cultures should not be translated into instructions for self-administration.
Does Time Matter in Research Protocols?
Yes, timing is of great importance in chronobiological research on Epitalon, as melatonin and other circadian hormones naturally change their concentration over a 24-hour period. Researchers must therefore control for light exposure, sample collection time, age, and baseline pineal function. However, the timing requirements in research do not determine the optimal time of personal use of Epitalon.
Chronobiological studies can easily lead to erroneous conclusions if the time of day is ignored.
Melatonin levels are typically low during the biological day and rise during the biological night. Therefore, a blood sample taken in the afternoon cannot be interpreted in the same way as a sample taken at night.
This problem was visible in studies on rhesus macaques.
W study involving 38 monkeys Plasma melatonin concentration showed a clear circadian rhythm, and the researchers compared younger and older animals, analyzing the effect of pineal peptide preparations on this rhythm.
Other studies in primates have specifically reported an increase evening or night melatonin concentrations after Epitalon administration to older animals. [3,5]
Human studies have also focused on nighttime melatonin, because the age-related deficit was most significant precisely during the period when its levels should physiologically be elevated. [6]
Lighting conditions also matter.
In animal studies, Epitalon was analyzed under standard light-dark cycles, constant illumination, natural seasonal light rhythms, and other modified photoperiods. These experiments are important because exposure to light strongly influences the physiology of the pineal gland and the circadian rhythm.
Some studies on rats have shown that Epitalon modified biological parameters differently depending on lighting conditions, which reinforces the hypothesis that its experimental effects may be dependent on the biological state, not constant.
This has two consequences.
For researchers, the time of day and lighting conditions are key variables.
For consumers, these experiments they do not provide a validated protocol for morning or evening use.
Does Epitalon Cause Drowsiness?
There is no good evidence that Epitalon directly causes acute drowsiness or has a sedative effect. Research has focused primarily on melatonin production and circadian hormonal regulation rather than immediate subjective sleepiness. The increased nighttime melatonin concentration observed in some experimental conditions should not, therefore, be interpreted as proof that Epitalon causes drowsiness.
Melatonin itself is best understood as circadian signal, and not just as a sedative. Its physiological evening rise signals to tissues throughout the body the arrival of the biological night.
An intervention affecting melatonin physiology could theoretically modify sleep timing without necessarily inducing immediate sedation.
Literature regarding Epitalon does not provide strong controlled human data showing that participants directly became drowsy, fell asleep faster, or exhibited measurable sedative effects after administration.
A 2007 publication on melatonin in humans primarily describes endocrine changes. [6]
Animal studies also focus on melatonin, cortisol, pineal signaling, or circadian rhythm markers, rather than behavioral sedation.
Therefore, the answer to the question „"Does Epithalon cause drowsiness?"” is not a confirmed „yes”.
Is Epitalon a Treatment for Insomnia?
No. Epitalon has not been confirmed as an effective treatment for insomnia, and available peer-reviewed scientific research does not include a modern randomized controlled trial in humans demonstrating improvement in insomnia severity, sleep latency, nocturnal awakenings, sleep efficiency, or total sleep time.
This distinction is particularly important because insomnia is a clinical disorder, not simply a state of low melatonin levels.
Insomnia can occur despite normal melatonin production and may be related, among other things, to mental disorders, chronic pain, medications, sleep-related breathing disorders, restless legs syndrome, circadian rhythm synchronization disorders, lifestyle, and other causes.
Literature regarding Epitalon focuses primarily on the question of whether the peptide alters the biology of the pineal gland and circadian rhythm, particularly during aging.
This is a scientifically different question from whether Epitalon cures insomnia.
Materials from the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting of July 2026 indicate that insomnia was the evaluated use for the reported bulk substances associated with Epitalon. Such an evaluation does not mean that the FDA has approved Epitalon for the treatment of insomnia. It means that the agency was reviewing bulk substances associated with Epitalon in the context of pharmacy compounding regulations.
The FDA separately indicates that it has not identified adequate compounding safety data for Epitalon for the proposed route of administration and notes potential concerns regarding immunogenicity, aggregation, peptide-related impurities, and product characterization.
Regulatory interest in the insomnia application should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that Epitalon is an approved or clinically validated treatment for insomnia.
Epitalon and Sleep — Summary of Evidence
The relationship between Epitalon and sleep is easier to interpret if the sleep results are separated from the melatonin results.
| Research question | What does the evidence show |
|---|---|
| Does Epitalon affect pathways related to melatonin? | Yes, in some experimental models. [1, 3–6] |
| Does it increase AANAT and pCREB? | Yes, in cultured rat pinealocytes. [1] |
| Does it always increase melatonin secretion by the pineal gland? | No. The study of the isolated rat pineal gland showed no significant effect. [2] |
| Does it increase nocturnal melatonin in old monkeys? | Such results have been described in several studies on non-human primates. [3–5] |
| Have changes in nocturnal melatonin been observed in the elderly? | Yes, in limited older studies, especially in individuals with lower baseline pineal function. [6] |
| Are hormonal rhythms experimentally restored? | There is evidence suggesting this from animals and primates. [3-6] |
| Does it improve sleep quality in humans? | Not determined. |
| Does it improve insomnia? | Not determined. |
| Does it increase REM sleep or deep sleep? | No direct evidence was identified. |
| Does it reliably cause drowsiness? | Not determined. |
| Has the superiority of morning or evening administration been proven? | No. |
| Is there an evidence-based dosage of Epitalon for sleep? | No validated clinical dosage has been established. |
The overall body of evidence is therefore much stronger with regard to melatonin and chronobiology than to treatment of sleep disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions about Epitalon and Sleep
Does Epitalon Help with Sleep?
It has not been shown that Epitalon improves sleep in humans. Studies in animals, non-human primates, and limited older human studies suggest it may affect nocturnal melatonin levels and circadian hormonal regulation, particularly during aging, but controlled evidence regarding improvements in sleep quality and duration, sleep latency, or insomnia is lacking. [3–6]
Does Epitalon Increase Melatonin?
Epitalon increased melatonin in rat pinealocyte culture and evening or nighttime melatonin levels in several studies in aging rhesus macaques. Limited older human studies also showed higher nighttime melatonin levels in elderly individuals with reduced pineal gland function. However, a study of the isolated rat pineal gland showed no significant effect on melatonin, so the response is not universal across all models. [1–6]
Does Epitalon Cause Drowsiness?
There is no controlled evidence showing that Epitalon reliably causes acute drowsiness. Published studies have primarily measured melatonin, cortisol, pineal signaling, or circadian rhythms rather than sedation or subjective sleepiness. Therefore, the link between Epitalon and melatonin should not be interpreted as evidence of a calming effect.
Is it better to take Epitalon in the morning or in the evening?
Neither morning nor evening administration has been found to be superior in controlled human trials. Although many studies have measured nocturnal melatonin levels because they physiologically peak during the biological night, the timing of measurement is not the same as an evidence-based dosing schedule. Animal protocols should not be translated into instructions for personal use.
Is There a Recommended Dosage of Epitalon for Sleep?
A validated dose of Epitalon for sleep or insomnia has not been established in modern controlled human trials. Experimental doses and concentrations vary significantly between cell cultures, rodents, and non-human primates, and cannot be reliably converted into a human sleep protocol.
Does Epitalon Reset the Circadian Rhythm?
Epitalon modified endocrine patterns related to circadian rhythms in animal and non-human primate studies, including melatonin and cortisol rhythms, and limited older human studies showed normalization of nocturnal melatonin patterns. However, this does not confirm that Epitalon can clinically „reset” the circadian rhythm or treat jet lag, shift work disorder, or delayed sleep-wake phase disorder. [3–6]
Does Epitalon Increase REM Phase or Deep Sleep?
There is no adequate evidence showing that Epitalon increases the REM phase or deep slow-wave sleep in humans. The available literature focuses primarily on melatonin secretion and circadian hormonal markers rather than sleep stages assessed polysomnographically.
How does Epitalon compare to DSIP in the context of sleep?
There are no appropriate direct head-to-head clinical trials showing whether Epitalon or delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP/emideltide) is more effective in the context of sleep. Their proposed biological mechanisms and research histories differ, and neither should be considered superior without controlled comparative human studies.
Evidence Limitations Regarding Epitalon and Sleep
The most important limitation is the discrepancy between what was actually measured and what is commonly declared.
Researchers measured melatonin.
Better sleep is often discussed in online forums.
These are not equivalent results.
Human studies are also old and relatively limited, and their reporting is incomplete by modern clinical trial standards. A significant portion of the mechanistic evidence, on the other hand, comes from rat pinealocytes, isolated rat pineal glands, aging monkeys, and other preclinical models. [1–6]
Another significant limitation is the inconsistency of the results.
An experiment on pinealocytes observed an increase in melatonin-related signaling, whereas an experiment on the isolated pineal gland showed no significant change in its secretion. [1,2] This contradiction argues against presenting Epitalon as a simple and direct melatonin stimulator.
Age may also modify the observed response. In several studies in primates, effects were observed mainly in older animals, while young animals showed little or no comparable hormonal response. [3–5]
The initial function of the pineal gland may also be of significance. In limited studies in elderly individuals, a greater increase in nocturnal melatonin concentration was observed in those classified as having a lower initial pineal function. [6]
This suggests that the interaction of the experimental compound Epitalon with circadian rhythm physiology may be dependent on the biological state, although this hypothesis has not been adequately investigated in modern human studies.
Finally, there are no robust human data determining pharmacokinetics, optimal administration time related to sleep, clinical dose-response relationship, safety of chronic use, interactions with melatonin or hypnotics, or long-term effects on the circadian system.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, therapeutic recommendations, dosage instructions, or a recommendation for the use of Epitalon. Epitalon/Epithalon (AEDG; Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is not FDA-approved for the treatment of insomnia or sleep improvement; FDA documentation also indicates that Epitalon's previous orphan drug designation for retinitis pigmentosa did not constitute approval for this indication. The FDA currently indicates that compounding with Epitalon may carry risks typical of peptides and that sufficient safety information has not been identified for the evaluated proposed route of administration. The FDA also considered bulk substances related to Epitalon in the context of insomnia during the pharmacy compounding advisory process in July 2026, which is separate from the approval of the substance as a medicinal product. Evidence regarding sleep remains primarily preclinical or based on limited older human endocrinological studies rather than contemporary sleep studies. The current status in the EU/EMA should likewise be verified in official European and national regulatory databases prior to clinical interpretation.
References
[1] Khavinson, V. K., Linkova, N. S., Kvetnoy, I. M., Kvetnaia, T. V., Polyakova, V. O., & Korf, H.-W. (2012). Molecular cellular mechanisms of peptide regulation of melatonin synthesis in pinealocyte culture. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 153(2), 255–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-012-1689-5
[2] Djeridane, Y., Khavinson, V. K., Anisimov, V. N., & Touitou, Y. (2003). Effect of a synthetic pineal tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) on melatonin secretion by the pineal gland of young and old rats. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 26(3), 211–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345159
[3] Goncharova, N. D., Khavinson, V. K., & Lapin, B. A. (2001). Regulatory effect of Epithalon on production of melatonin and cortisol in old monkeys. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 131(4), 394–396. doi: 10.1023/A:1017928925177
[4] Khavinson, V., Goncharova, N., & Lapin, B. (2001). Synthetic tetrapeptide Epitalon restores disturbed neuroendocrine regulation in senescent monkeys. Neuro Endocrinology Letters, 22(4), 251–254. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11524632/
[5] Goncharova, N. D., Vengerin, A. A., Khavinson, V. K., & Lapin, B. A. (2005). Pineal peptides restore the age-related disturbances in hormonal functions of the pineal gland and the pancreas. Experimental Gerontology, 40(1–2), 51–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2004.10.004
[6] Korkushko, O. V., Lapin, B. A., Goncharova, N. D., Khavinson, V. K., Shatilo, V. B., Vengerin, A. A., Antoniuk-Shcheglova, I. A., & Magdich, L. V. (2007). Normalizing effect of the pineal gland peptides on the daily melatonin rhythm in old monkeys and elderly people. Advances in Gerontology, 20(1), 74–85. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17969590/
[7] Araj, S. K., Brzezik, J., Mądra-Gackowska, K., & Szeleszczuk, Ł. (2025). Overview of Epitalon—Highly bioactive pineal tetrapeptide with promising properties. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(6), 2691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26062691