What it is
Pinealon is a synthetic tripeptide made of the amino acids glutamic acid, aspartic acid and arginine (Glu-Asp-Arg, also called the EDR peptide). It belongs to the Khavinson family of short peptide bioregulators and is studied in Russian research for neuroprotection and cognitive support with aging.
In the PeptidesAI encyclopedia it is categorized under cognitive.
How it's thought to work
Pinealon is proposed to act as a peptide bioregulator that penetrates cells and influences gene expression in neural tissue, supporting antioxidant defenses and neuronal function. A review from the originating research group describes the EDR peptide as assumed to enter cells and bind to histone proteins or RNA, and reports effects on signaling pathways and on antioxidant proteins.
What the research says
Russian research reports neuroprotective and cognitive effects, including a rat study in which pinealon given during pregnancy improved the offspring's learning and made their cerebellar neurons more resistant to oxidative stress. Independent Western replication is limited, and pinealon is not FDA-approved.
Reported side effects
Few side effects are reported. Occasional injection site irritation has been noted, and independent safety data is limited.
Reconstitution
Pinealon is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder and is typically reconstituted with bacteriostatic (BAC) water before use. It commonly comes in 5 mg and 10 mg vials. The amount of peptide in the vial is fixed; the water added only changes how concentrated the solution is.
Worked example. A 5 mg vial is 5,000 mcg. Reconstituted with 1 mL of BAC water, that works out to 5,000 mcg ÷ 1 mL = 5,000 mcg/mL. On a U-100 insulin syringe, where each unit is 0.01 mL, each unit holds 5,000 × 0.01 = 50 mcg. Use the peptide reconstitution calculator to work out the concentration and units for any vial size and water volume.
Important notes
Pinealon is a Khavinson bioregulator and is not FDA-approved. Its evidence base comes largely from a single research group.
Sources
- EDR Peptide: Possible Mechanism of Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis Regulation Involved in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease.. Khavinson V et al. Molecules, 2020. Review
- Pinealon protects the rat offspring from prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia.. Arutjunyan A et al. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2012. Preclinical
Frequently asked questions
These questions cover the same ground as the sections above, in a shorter format.
What is Pinealon?
A synthetic tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Arg) from the Khavinson family of short peptide bioregulators, studied in Russian research for neuroprotection.
How is Pinealon thought to work?
It is proposed to act as a peptide bioregulator that enters cells and influences gene expression in neural tissue, supporting antioxidant defenses.
What does the research on Pinealon say?
Russian research reports neuroprotective and cognitive effects; independent Western replication is limited.
What are the reported side effects of Pinealon?
Few are reported, with occasional injection site irritation; independent safety data is limited.
How much is one unit from a 5 mg Pinealon vial?
With 1 mL of BAC water, a 5 mg vial is 5,000 mcg/mL, so one unit on a U-100 syringe (0.01 mL) holds 50 mcg.
The full entry, plus the calculator
The PeptidesAI app has the complete encyclopedia entry for Pinealon — one of 70 compounds covered — plus the reconstitution calculator, a dose log and reminders. Free to download on iPhone.
Download on the App Store