Body Pharm Epithalon 20mg is a lyophilised synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, molecular weight 390.4 Da) sold in South Africa for in vitro and preclinical research, with local listings appearing through resellers such as Syntrix Labs rather than a single manufacturer storefront. Researchers procuring in 2026 should request a batch-specific certificate of analysis directly, since neither Syntrix Labs nor Body Pharm's public channels publish HPLC purity figures on the product page. Purity directly affects the reliability of your experimental results and the cost-per-unit of active compound.
This guide consolidates verified sequence data, reconstitution arithmetic (20 mg in 2 mL gives 10 mg/mL), SAHPRA scheduling context, and the current state of the telomerase and circadian literature. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of the peptide's chemical identity, the preclinical evidence for telomerase and circadian effects, current South African pricing and regulatory requirements, and how to evaluate a 20 mg vial against your actual research needs before committing ZAR to an order.
Key Takeaways
- Body Pharm Epithalon 20 mg is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) supplied as lyophilised powder for laboratory research only, not human use.
- Preclinical evidence supports telomerase activation and circadian regulation in cell and rodent models; no completed human clinical trials exist as of 2026.
- Request batch-specific certificates of analysis before purchase, as HPLC purity data are not publicly listed.
- Epithalon is not individually scheduled under South African medicines law; human administration would require SAHPRA clinical trial authorisation.
- Reconstitution in 2 mL yields 10 mg/mL; store lyophilised stock at −20 °C and reconstituted aliquots at 2–8 °C for up to 30 days.
What Is Body Pharm Epithalon 20 mg?
Body Pharm Epithalon 20 mg is a lyophilised synthetic tetrapeptide vial supplied for in vitro and preclinical research. It contains 20 mg of Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (CAS 307297-39-8) with an average molecular weight of approximately 390.35 g/mol. Body Pharm is the listed manufacturer, with South African distribution through resellers including Syntrix Labs and Yaga marketplace listings.
The peptide is a synthetic short-chain analogue derived from epithalamin, a polypeptide fraction originally isolated from the pineal gland. This is why "Epithalon" and "Epitalon" appear interchangeably in the literature and on vendor pages. The synthetic route delivers batch-to-batch consistency that tissue extracts cannot match.
Quick identity reference
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Body Pharm |
| Format | Lyophilised powder, single vial |
| Vial size | 20 mg |
| Sequence | Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly |
| Molecular weight | ~390.35 g/mol |
| CAS number | 307297-39-8 |
| Status | Research use only; not registered with SAHPRA as a medicine |
This product is sold strictly for laboratory and preclinical investigation. It is not approved for human administration in South Africa. Procurement should sit alongside the broader Epithalon category page and the full peptide catalogue when scoping related research compounds.
Epithalon Sequence & Structural Properties
Epithalon is the linear tetrapeptide H-Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly-OH (one-letter: AEDG; three-letter: Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), with a free N-terminal α-amino group on alanine and a free C-terminal carboxyl on glycine. The average molecular weight is 390.4 Da to four significant figures. Peptide bonds run conventionally N→C: Ala¹–Glu²–Asp³–Gly⁴.
The two acidic side chains (γ-carboxyl of Glu, β-carboxyl of Asp) give the molecule a net negative charge at physiological pH, which influences how it interacts with cell membranes and receptor proteins.
The sequence is short, hydrophilic, and lacks disulfide bridges or aromatic residues. Reconstitution in aqueous buffer at neutral pH is straightforward. Sterile water or 0.9% sodium chloride is the standard solvent for in vitro work, with 0.22 μm filtration before cell-culture use. Lyophilised vials should be stored desiccated at −20 °C, with working aliquots prepared to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles that accelerate peptide bond hydrolysis.
Specification summary
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| IUPAC short form | H-Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly-OH |
| One-letter code | AEDG |
| CAS | 307297-39-8 |
| Average MW | 390.4 Da |
| Solubility | Aqueous buffer, pH ~7 |
| Storage | −20 °C, desiccated, sealed |
| Shelf life (sealed, lyophilised) | ~24 months |
Cross-reference the Epithalon category page and the full peptide catalogue when matching this identity data to related tetrapeptide research compounds.
Telomerase Research: What the Studies Show
The preclinical case for Epithalon rests on three mechanistic areas: telomerase activation in somatic cells, lifespan extension in rodent models, and circadian regulation through pineal melatonin pathways. All published evidence as of 2026 remains preclinical; no completed human clinical trials of Epithalon are indexed in mainstream databases between 2023 and 2026. Preclinical findings do not reliably translate to human efficacy or safety, and researchers should treat these results as hypothesis-generating rather than proof of clinical benefit.
Khavinson and colleagues (Bull Exp Biol Med, 2003) reported that Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly induced telomerase activity in cultured human somatic cells and lengthened telomeres beyond the Hayflick limit, framing the peptide as a candidate modulator of replicative senescence. The work was conducted in fibroblast cultures and has not been replicated at scale by independent Western laboratories, a gap worth keeping in mind when designing experiments around these claims.
Anisimov et al. (J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2011 and earlier rodent cohorts) observed increased mean lifespan and reduced spontaneous tumour incidence in CBA mice and rats receiving chronic low-dose Epithalon. Effects were attributed in part to restoration of nocturnal melatonin amplitude in aged animals. The circadian arm of the literature centres on pineal gland signalling. Rodent and small human cohort data describe upregulation of melatonin synthesis and resynchronisation of cortisol rhythm, alongside IL-2 mRNA induction in immune tissues. These observations point to a neuroendocrine mechanism, though human relevance remains unproven.
A 2026 evidence overview aimed at practitioners synthesises these mechanistic strands and explicitly notes the gap: telomerase, melatonin, and immune-signalling data are dominated by cell and rodent models plus small, older human cohorts. No large controlled trials and no long-term safety follow-up have been published in the 2023–2026 window. Epithalon should be evaluated as an investigational tetrapeptide with a coherent but unfinished mechanistic dossier, suitable for in vitro and preclinical research designs rather than translational endpoints.
Researchers building a wider tetrapeptide comparison should review the Epithalon category page for related Khavinson-series compounds, and the full peptide catalogue for adjacent senescence and circadian research tools.
Circadian Regulation & Pineal Peptide Context
Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is the synthetic tetrapeptide analogue of epithalamin, a polypeptide complex originally isolated from bovine pineal gland extract and characterised in Anisimov's rodent ageing programme. The synthetic form was developed to reproduce epithalamin's neuroendocrine signalling in a defined, reproducible sequence suitable for controlled laboratory work, removing the lot-to-lot variability inherent to tissue extracts.
The proposed mechanism in preclinical models runs upstream of melatonin itself. Epithalon appears to act on pinealocytes to upregulate endogenous melatonin synthesis and restore nocturnal amplitude in aged animals, with downstream effects on hypothalamic-pituitary axis signalling and the antioxidant cascade attributed to melatonin's free-radical scavenging activity. This is mechanistically distinct from exogenous melatonin administration, which bypasses pineal regulation entirely and delivers a pharmacological bolus rather than modulating the gland's own output rhythm. That distinction matters: it suggests a different pathway of action and potentially different biological outcomes, which is worth building into your experimental design.
For researchers working on circadian or neuroendocrine protocols, Epithalon is a candidate tool for probing pineal regulatory pathways rather than a melatonin substitute. Comparative work with adjacent Khavinson-series peptides can be sourced from the Epithalon category page, and the full peptide catalogue lists related compounds for hypothalamic-pituitary axis studies.
2026 Pricing & Value: Body Pharm Epithalon 20 mg in ZAR
Live ZAR pricing for the Body Pharm Epithalon 20 mg vial should be confirmed directly on the product page at the time of order. Listings and stock have shifted across South African vendors through 2025–2026. At the time of writing, I was unable to verify a fixed jcsg.org/za price point that would remain accurate for procurement documentation. The figures below are a calculation template rather than a quoted retail price, which protects your budget planning from outdated figures.
Cost-per-mg calculation template
Use the vial price shown on the live listing and divide by 20 to derive the per-milligram cost for budget comparison against smaller formats listed on the Epithalon category page.
| Vial size | Price (ZAR) | Cost per mg |
|---|---|---|
| Epithalon 20 mg | R[live price] | R[price ÷ 20] |
| Smaller vial (if listed) | R[live price] | R[price ÷ mg] |
For multi-compound procurement, cross-reference the full peptide catalogue before raising the purchase order. All figures are current as of 2026 and subject to revision without notice.
Shipping & Procurement in South Africa
Body Pharm Epithalon 20 mg ships as a lyophilised vial via tracked domestic courier, with discreet outer packaging and ZAR checkout at the JCSG.org homepage. Confirm exact dispatch terms on the live listing before raising a PO, as fulfilment partners and lead times have shifted across South African vendors through 2025–2026.
Lead times and packaging
For orders into Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban metros, expect courier delivery within roughly 2–5 working days from a regional fulfilment point. Outlying areas add 1–3 days. Lyophilised tetrapeptides such as Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly remain stable at ambient temperature during short-duration transit because the lyophilised state minimises hydrolysis. Refrigerate at 2–8 °C or freeze at −20 °C immediately on receipt.
Payment and minimums
Checkout is settled in ZAR via standard South African card and EFT rails. There is no published minimum order quantity for a single 20 mg vial. Researchers consolidating multi-compound orders can cross-reference the full peptide catalogue or the Epithalon category page before submitting.
Regulatory Status for South African Researchers (2026)
Epithalon is not registered as a medicine in South Africa and is supplied strictly as a research chemical for in vitro and preclinical laboratory use, not for human administration. SAHPRA administers the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 and the Schedules to that Act, which list named substances and certain therapeutic classes. Synthetic tetrapeptides such as Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly are not individually listed by name in the publicly accessible schedules as of 2026. They are generally handled as unregistered medicines rather than scheduled narcotics or psychotropics.
Any human administration, including investigator-initiated studies, would trigger SAHPRA clinical trial authorisation requirements and, where applicable, registration as a medicine. Before raising a purchase order against the Epithalon category page or any line item in the full peptide catalogue, I recommend two checks. First, confirm the current scheduling position directly with SAHPRA. Second, route the protocol through the relevant institutional research ethics committee (university REC, animal ethics committee, or biosafety committee as the study design demands). Both steps protect your institution and the integrity of your research.
This section is procurement orientation, not legal advice. Researchers operating outside a registered institution should seek qualified South African legal counsel before importing or holding stock.
Related Peptides for Ageing & Longevity Research
Researchers studying ageing biology often procure adjacent compounds alongside Epithalon to build a comparative panel. The full peptide catalogue lists several that overlap with telomerase, mitochondrial, and neuroendocrine work relevant to longevity models.
GHK-Cu (the copper tripeptide Gly-His-Lys-Cu) is studied for fibroblast signalling, antioxidant response, and extracellular matrix remodelling. Copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase and other cross-linking enzymes. It is stocked locally as a 50 mg pen format.
NAD+ is procured for mitochondrial bioenergetics and sirtuin-pathway research where intracellular NAD pools are the readout. NAD availability directly limits sirtuin activity.
IGF-1 LR3, a long-arginine-3 analogue with extended half-life relative to native IGF-1, supports growth-factor signalling and senescence-bypass studies in cultured cells.
Selank and Semax are short heptapeptides derived from tuftsin and ACTH(4-10) respectively, used in BDNF expression and anxiolytic-pathway models because they modulate neuropeptide signalling in the central nervous system.
Procurement teams running parallel projects on the Epithalon category page typically consolidate these into a single order to reduce courier and CoA handling overhead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Epithalon the same compound as Epitalon?
Epithalon and Epitalon are two transliterations of the same Russian-origin tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, with a molecular weight of 390.4 Da. Both spellings appear interchangeably across vendor listings and peer-reviewed literature. No chemical distinction exists between the two designations. CoAs may use either name depending on the manufacturer's documentation convention.
What concentration does a 20 mg vial yield after reconstitution?
Concentration depends on the diluent volume chosen. Reconstituting 20 mg in 2 mL of bacteriostatic water or 0.9% saline gives 10 mg/mL; 4 mL gives 5 mg/mL. For cell-culture applications, filter through a 0.22 μm membrane and treat these as laboratory calculations rather than dosing guidance.
Is Epithalon legal to procure in South Africa for laboratory use?
Epithalon is not individually listed on the Schedules to the Medicines and Related Substances Act and is generally treated as an unregistered medicine or research chemical in South Africa. Human administration would trigger SAHPRA clinical trial authorisation requirements. Procurement should sit within institutional research, ethics, and standard operating procedure (SOP) frameworks. Verify current SAHPRA guidance at the time of purchase.
How should reconstituted Epithalon be stored?
Store reconstituted Epithalon at 2–8 °C and use within roughly 30 days. Keep lyophilised stock at −20 °C for long-term integrity. Aliquot before freezing to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
What purity standard applies to Body Pharm Epithalon 20 mg?
No HPLC purity figure is publicly published on Body Pharm's listings or associated South African retailers as of 2026. Request the batch-specific CoA directly from the vendor before procurement. The Epithalon category page and full peptide catalogue consolidate variant documentation for laboratory buyers.
Next Steps
Before placing your order, take three actions. First, confirm the current live price and stock status on the Epithalon category page or JCSG.org homepage. Second, request the batch-specific certificate of analysis from the vendor to verify HPLC purity and identity. Third, if your work involves any human-facing application or institutional oversight, route your protocol through your institution's research ethics committee and confirm SAHPRA scheduling status directly. These steps ensure your procurement meets regulatory requirements and your experimental design rests on verified material specifications.
