Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg): Neuroprotection Research in Animal Models

Pinealon is the CNS-associated member of the Khavinson family, with published work on cell viability, free-radical suppression and prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia — all animal or cell models. What each study actually reports.

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pinealon bioregulator khavinson Glu-Asp-Arg EDR neuroprotection CNS tripeptide

Key Research Findings

  • Pinealon is the tripeptide Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR), C15H26N6O8, 418.40 g/mol — the CNS-associated member of the Khavinson family.
  • Its arginine C-terminus makes it the only strongly basic tripeptide in the set.
  • Published work: cell viability and free-radical suppression (PMID 21978084), protection of rat offspring from prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia (PMID 22567179).
  • The hyperhomocysteinemia study came from a group outside the originating programme — unusual in this family.
  • The hypoxia study pairs Pinealon with another preparation, so effects cannot be cleanly attributed.
  • All evidence is cell or animal level. No human study, no established amount.

What Pinealon Is

Pinealon is a synthetic tripeptide, Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR), C15H26N6O8, 418.40 g/mol. Within the bioregulator family it is the central-nervous-system member, and it is one of the minority of the family with published work naming it directly.

It is also structurally distinctive: the arginine C-terminus makes it the only strongly basic tripeptide in the set, which is the property most often invoked in discussions of its distribution.

Research use only. Supplied for laboratory research. Not for human or veterinary use. No marketing authorisation exists and no therapeutic claim is made.

What the Published Studies Report

Cell viability and free-radical levels

The most-cited work reports that Pinealon increased cell viability by suppressing free radical levels and activating proliferative processes (Khavinson et al., Rejuvenation Res 2011, PMID 21978084). This is the study most often cited as the mechanistic basis for the neuroprotective association, and it is a cell-level result.

Prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia in rats

An independent group reported that Pinealon protected rat offspring from prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia (Arutjunyan et al., Int J Clin Exp Med 2012, PMID 22567179). This is a whole-animal developmental model and one of the few papers in the family from outside the originating group.

Behaviour under hypoxia and hypothermia

A study in 18-month-old rats examined the influence of Pinealon and Cortexin on behaviour and neurochemical processes under hypoxia and hypothermia (Mendzheritsky et al., Adv Gerontol 2015, PMID 28509493). Note that the design pairs Pinealon with a separate preparation, which limits what can be attributed to the tripeptide alone.

Reading the Evidence

Everything is animal or cell-level. There is no human study. The developmental model in rats is the strongest whole-organism evidence and it addresses one specific insult.

One study is a combination design. Where a compound is administered alongside another preparation, effects cannot be cleanly assigned to either.

No amount is established. No controlled human programme exists, so no figure is published for any context.

Structure and Handling

  • Sequence. Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR), tripeptide.
  • Formula. C15H26N6O8, 418.40 g/mol.
  • Form. Lyophilised powder, ≥98% purity, third-party certificate of analysis per batch.
  • Storage. Sealed vial at −20 °C, protected from light; reconstituted solution at 2–8 °C.
  • Reconstitution. Bacteriostatic water down the vial wall, never onto the powder cake. Do not shake. See the reconstitution calculator.

Cortagen is the other CNS-associated member of the family and has its own literature, including work on injured nerve function. Epithalon shares the pineal origin. The full set is on our bioregulator overview.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pinealon?

Pinealon is a synthetic tripeptide, Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR), C15H26N6O8, 418.40 g/mol. It is the central-nervous-system associated member of the Khavinson bioregulator family and one of the minority with published studies naming it directly.

What does the research on Pinealon show?

Published work reports increased cell viability through suppression of free radical levels (PMID 21978084), protection of rat offspring from prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia (PMID 22567179), and behavioural and neurochemical effects in aged rats under hypoxia and hypothermia (PMID 28509493). All are cell or animal models; there is no human study.

Is there an established Pinealon dosage?

No. No controlled human programme exists, so no published figure is available for any population or context.

How does Pinealon differ from Cortagen?

Both are associated with the central nervous system but they are different molecules with separate literatures. Pinealon is the tripeptide Glu-Asp-Arg; Cortagen is the tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro. Findings for one do not transfer to the other.

Was Pinealon research done independently?

The prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia work (PMID 22567179) came from a group outside the originating programme, which is unusual within this family. The hypoxia study pairs Pinealon with a separate preparation, so effects cannot be cleanly attributed to the tripeptide alone.

References

  1. Khavinson V, Ribakova Y, Kulebiakin K, Vladychenskaya E, Kozina L, Arutjunyan A, et al.. Pinealon increases cell viability by suppression of free radical levels and activating proliferative processes Rejuvenation Research (2011)
  2. Arutjunyan A, Kozina L, Stvolinskiy S, Bulygina Y, Mashkina A, Khavinson V. Pinealon protects the rat offspring from prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (2012)
  3. Mendzheritsky AM, Karantysh GV, Ryzhak GA, Dyakonova VE. Pinealon and Cortexin influence on behavior and neurochemical processes in 18-month aged rats within hypoxia and hypothermia Advances in Gerontology (2015)
Research Use Only: This content is intended for laboratory and scientific research purposes only. It is not intended for human use, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All compounds discussed are for in vitro and preclinical research contexts.

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