Epitalon TFA is an anti-aging agent and a telomerase activator. Epitalon TFA has an inhibitory effect of the on the development of spontaneous tumors in mice, has geroprotective actions and intranasal administration increases neuronal activity. Epitalon TFA can be used for cancer, old age and Retinitis Pigmentosa[1].
Addition of Epithalon peptide in telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast culture induced expression of the catalytical subunit, enzymatic activity of telomerase, and telomere elongation, which can be due to reactivation of telomerase gene in somatic cells and indicates the possibility of prolonging life span of a cell population and of the whole organism[1].
Epitalon TFA increases the lifespan of mice and fruit flies and restores the circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol production in old rhesus monkeys. At the same time, Epitalon prolongs the functional integrity of the eye retina in Campbell rats with hereditary Retinitis Pigmentosa and improves the visual functions in patients with pigmental retinal degeneration[1].Epitalon TFA (subcutaneous injection; 1.0 µg/mouse (30-40 µg/kg); 5 consecutive days every month; 3-12 months) does not influence food consumption, body weight or mean life span of mice. However, Epitalon slows down the age-related switching-off of estrous function and decreased the frequency of chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells (by 17.1%). Epitalon increased by 13.3% the life span of the last 10% of the survivors in comparison with the control group in Swiss-derived SHR mice[4]. Animal Model: Swiss-derived SHR mice[4]
[1]. Khavinson VKh. et al. Peptides and Ageing. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002;23 Suppl 3:11-144. [2]. Vanhee C, et al. Identification of the small research tetra peptide Epitalon, assumed to be a potential treatment for cancer, old age and Retinitis Pigmentosa in two illegal pharmaceutical preparations. Drug Test Anal. 2015 Mar;7(3):259-64. [3]. Khavinson VKh, et al. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003 Jun;135(6):590-2. [4]. Vladimir N Anisimov, 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