Cortagen
aka AEDP · Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro
Mechanism
Cortagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro, AEDP) short-peptide bioregulator derived from amino-acid analysis of Cortexin, a polypeptide preparation from cow brain cortex. It was developed by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology and is reported to act on cortical neurons by entering the nucleus and influencing tissue-specific gene expression. The research group claims neuroprotective and nerve-repair effects; evidence is limited to single-group preclinical and small clinical work, and it is not FDA-approved.
Studied uses
- cerebral cortex and neural repair research (research only)
- neuroprotection and antioxidant balance models (preclinical)
- peripheral nerve regeneration studies (single-group research)
Identification
| CAS number | 335591-03-2 |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C17H26N4O9 |
| Sequence | AEDP |
| Typical dose | No established clinical dosing; vendor research protocols commonly cite 1-2 mg/day subcutaneous |
| Half-life | Not characterized in peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic literature; short-peptide bioregulators are presumed to clear rapidly (minutes) |
Safety
Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use. A Russian/Khavinson research peptide with little independent Western safety or efficacy data; sold grey-market for research use only. Not evaluated by WADA.
Vendors selling Cortagen
| Vendor | Size | Price | Listed purity | Trust |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioLongevity Labs | 20 mg | $69.97 | — | 96 |
| Peptidology | 20 mg | $54.99 | — | 89 |
| Verified Peptides | 20 mg | $55.00 | — | 86 |
Research
Epitalon, also known as Epithalon or Epithalone, is a tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), which was synthesized based on the amino acids composition of Epithalamin, a bovine pineal gland extract, prior to its discovery in pineal gland polypeptide complex solution.
source →Malnutrition is a common challenge in patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy (CPD), impacting postoperative recovery and overall prognosis. Nutritional support plays a crucial role in optimising metabolic, inflammatory, and digestive outcomes.
source →Neurons become more vulnerable to stress factors with age, which leads to increased oxidative DNA damage, decreased activity of mitochondria and lysosomes, increased levels of p16, decreased LaminB1 proteins, and the depletion of the dendritic tree.
source →In the present study, on the one hand, the epigenetic modification of condensed "old" chromatin was determined, and on the other hand, the influence of peptide bioregulators (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly-Epitalon; Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala-Livagen; Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro - Cortagen and Lys-Glu - Vilon) on condensed chromatin in lymphocytes from old…
source →The polypeptide drug cortexin and the synthetic peptide drug cortagen accelerate the recovery of disturbed individual behavior of ischemic rats with different resistance to hypoxia (high and low resistant rats).
source →Injections of epithalon and cortagen to rats decreased the content of LPO products and reduced oxidative modification of proteins, which was paralleled by suppression of antioxidant activity in rat serum and cerebral cortex.
source →Age-specific characteristics of production of lymphocyte-activating factor by mouse peritoneal macrophages and modulation of this production by short synthetic peptides (Vilon, Epithalon, and Cortagen) were studied.
source →In situ hybridization on paraffin sections of the rat brain showed that synthetic peptides Vilon, Epithalon, and Cortagen modulated the expression of IL-2 gene in vivo in cells of some hypothalamic structures depending on the terms and routes of administration.
source →Objectives Aging is associated with significant alterations in gene expression in numerous organs and tissues.
source →Immunomodulating effects of synthetic peptides Vilon (Lys-Glu), Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), and Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) and possible involvement of the sphingomyelin signal transduction pathway in their effects in mouse thymocytes were studied.
source →Synthetic peptides Vilon (Lys-Glu), Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), and Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) in vitro activated interleukin-2 mRNA synthesis in splenocytes from CBA mice in the absence of specific inductors.
source →Intramuscular injection of 10 microg/kg cortagen to rats during 10 days after transsection and suturing of the sciatic nerve increased the growth rate and conduction velocity in the regenerating nerve fibers by 27% and 40%, respectively.
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