Cerebrolysin vs Epitalon
Cerebrolysin (Neurotrophic peptide preparation (porcine-brain-derived)) and Epitalon (Synthetic tetrapeptide (pineal bioregulator)) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | Cerebrolysin | Epitalon |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | Neurotrophic peptide preparation (porcine-brain-derived) | Synthetic tetrapeptide (pineal bioregulator) |
| Research category | Cognitive & Nootropic | Longevity & Cellular |
| Length (amino acids) | Not documented | 4 amino acids |
| Molecular weight | Not documented | 390.35 g/mol |
| Half-life | ~2-4 hours (peptide fraction; mixture) | Not documented |
| Origin | Cerebrolysin is a peptide preparation produced by enzymatic breakdown of purified porcine brain proteins, manufactured by EVER Pharma. It has been used clinically in a number of countries, particularly in Europe and Asia. | Epitalon (also spelled Epithalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed in Russia by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues, designed as a short-peptide analog derived from studies of the pineal extract Epithalamin. It emerged from Russian peptide bioregulator research aimed at tissue-specific regulatory peptides. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How Cerebrolysin works
Cerebrolysin is a mixture of low-molecular-weight neuropeptides and free amino acids rather than a single defined peptide. It is reported to exert neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects with a proposed mechanism resembling that of endogenous neurotrophic factors, potentially influencing neuronal survival, plasticity, and repair. The precise active components and mechanisms are not fully defined.
How Epitalon works
Epitalon is proposed to act as a peptide bioregulator influencing gene expression and pineal function. Reported preclinical mechanisms include modulation of the pineal gland and melatonin regulation, and studies have described effects on telomerase activity and telomere length in cultured human cells. The precise molecular mechanism in vivo is not fully established, and much of the mechanistic data comes from cell-culture and animal models.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
Cerebrolysin
Epitalon
What sets each apart
Cerebrolysin
Cerebrolysin is a biologically derived multi-component preparation rather than a single synthetic peptide, distinguishing it from defined molecules like Semax or Dihexa.
Epitalon
Epitalon is a defined 4-amino-acid pineal bioregulator peptide, distinct from thymic peptides (immune focus) and mitochondrial peptides, with a research emphasis on telomere/telomerase biology.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cerebrolysin?
Cerebrolysin is not a single peptide but a porcine brain-derived preparation produced by controlled enzymatic proteolysis of lipid-free brain proteins. It is a mixture of roughly 75% free amino acids and 25% low-molecular-weight peptides, studied for neurotrophic-factor-like activity.
What is Cerebrolysin studied for?
Cerebrolysin is studied in models and clinical research of ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Reported mechanisms include promotion of neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and upregulation of neurotrophic signaling such as BDNF.
How is Cerebrolysin administered in research?
Because it is a liquid biologic mixture rather than a lyophilized single peptide, Cerebrolysin is administered parenterally in research, typically by intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection. It is supplied as a ready-to-use solution, so no reconstitution of a powder is involved.
What is epitalon and what is it studied for?
Epitalon (epithalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, modeled on the pineal peptide epithalamin. It is studied in aging research for reported effects on telomerase activity, telomere length, circadian/melatonin regulation, and antioxidant markers, largely in older Russian experimental programs and cell/animal models.
What is the sequence and molecular weight of epitalon?
Epitalon is the tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), with molecular formula C14H22N4O9 and a molecular weight of about 390.35 g/mol. Its short four-residue length is one reason it is thought to have a very brief systemic half-life.
How is epitalon cycled in research protocols?
Reported research and community protocols use short cycles rather than continuous dosing, commonly a 10-20 day course repeated once or twice per year. Cycling reflects the older Russian research design of intermittent short courses rather than daily long-term administration.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.