Pinealon (EDR tripeptide / Glu-Asp-Arg)

Longevity · Pineal peptide bioregulator

Tier C+

peptidenootropicneuroprotectiveepigeneticresearch-only

5.3 / 10

Tier C+

Ev 2.0 Bn 5.0 Sf 9.0

What this is

Same evidence-quality caveats as Epithalon and Thymalin: nearly all data originates from Khavinson's St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology and collaborators — limited independent Western peer review. The Khavinson framework proposes that 2-4 amino acid "cytogen" peptides act as tissue-specific gene expression modulators via electrostatic binding to chromatin. Best mechanistic paper: Khavinson 2021 "EDR Peptide: Possible Mechanism of Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis Regulation Involved in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease" (Int J Mol Sci PMC7795577). Best preclinical: Khavinson 2021 Pharmaceuticals 14:515 — KED and EDR peptides prevented dendritic spine loss in 5xFAD mice. Only direct human study identified: Kryzhanovskaya 2014 cognitive enhancement trial in 60 healthy adults aged 45-65 — small; not replicated in the West. Distinct from melatonin (sometimes co-marketed as a "pineal" compound but mechanism is unrelated). Treat with the same skepticism that applies to the broader Russian peptide bioregulator family: plausible mechanism; decades-old Russian clinical tradition; no Western RCTs to confirm or refute. Biohacker readers should know this is research-chemical-grade material with no GMP oversight in most online channels.

Mechanism

Synthetic Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR) tripeptide from Khavinson's St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology; pineal-extract-derived (a tripeptide sibling of Epithalon's tetrapeptide); proposed to penetrate cell nuclei and bind promoter regions of neuroprotective genes (antioxidant enzymes; anti-apoptotic factors; neurotrophic regulators); preclinical evidence of dendritic-spine preservation in 5xFAD Alzheimer mouse model

Dose & route

100 mcg-10 mg SC daily for 10-20 day courses, cycled 1-2x/year (biohacker protocols vary widely)

Citations

Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.

This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.