# Epitalon References: The Cited Literature

> Epitalon references — the full cited literature behind this digest, with DOIs and PubMed links, from the 2003 telomerase result to the 2025 independent replication.

Every quantitative claim on this site maps to one of these sources. DOIs and PubMed links included.

## How these sources were used

The list below is the complete reference set for this digest, spanning the foundational 2003 telomerase result through the 2025 independent replication and systematic review. The bulk of the human and lifespan work originates from the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology; that concentration is itself part of the story, and is flagged on every page. Where a claim is quantitative — a percentage, a dose, an n-value — it is tied to a numbered source here. Several entries are paywalled; PubMed identifiers and DOIs are provided so any reader can locate the primary record.

## References

[1] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12937682/
[2] Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG. Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003;24(3-4):233-240. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14523363/
[3] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14501183/
[4] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40141333/
[5] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40908429/
[6] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22816096/
[7] Khavinson VKh, Izmaylov DM, Obukhova LK, Malinin VV. Effect of epitalon on the lifespan increase in Drosophila melanogaster. Mech Ageing Dev. 2000;120(1-3):141-149. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11087911/
[8] Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, Provinciali M, et al. Epithalon decelerates aging and suppresses development of breast adenocarcinomas in transgenic her-2/neu mice. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2002;133(2):139-143. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12459848/
[9] Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG. Pineal peptide preparation epithalamin increases the lifespan of fruit flies, mice and rats. Mech Ageing Dev. 1998;103(2):123-132. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9701766/
[10] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15909815/
[11] Lezhava T, Monaselidze J, et al. Peptide Epitalon activates chromatin at the old age. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003;24(3-4):144-147. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14647006/
[12] Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, et al. Effect of the synthetic pineal peptide epitalon on spontaneous carcinogenesis in female C3H/He mice. In Vivo. 2006;20(2):281-284. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16634527/
[13] Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, et al. Effect of Epitalon and Vilon treatment on mammary carcinogenesis in transgenic erbB-2/NEU mice. Vopr Onkol. 2002;48(1):33-37. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12101568/
[14] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12195242/
[15] Effect of epitalon on interleukin-1beta signal transduction and the reaction of thymocyte blast transformation under stress. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002;23(5-6):455-458. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12500162/
[16] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12049808/

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An editorial reading of the Epitalon literature, set in type against the evidence — not a clinic, not a vendor, and not a prescription.