Pinealon
What it is
Pinealon, identified by its amino acid sequence Glu-Asp-Arg and commonly abbreviated EDR, is a synthetic three amino acid peptide, or tripeptide, with a molecular weight near 390 g/mol. It is one of the short peptides in the Khavinson bioregulator family, a group of ultrashort peptides developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, and despite its name it was described from work on brain cortex peptide extracts rather than being isolated from the pineal gland itself.
Research context and categorization
Pinealon is generally grouped under the cognitive and neuroprotective category, and more specifically among the Khavinson peptide bioregulators. In cell-culture and animal models it has been investigated for reported neuroprotective activity against oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, and it is commonly discussed in relation to modulation of gene expression and protein synthesis in neurons. Because the molecule is very small, published Russian research proposes that it can cross cellular and nuclear membranes and interact directly with chromatin, though this proposed mechanism is a working hypothesis rather than a confirmed receptor or binding pathway. Pinealon is also studied in the context of circadian and pineal regulation, reduction of apoptosis in neural tissue, and cognitive endpoints such as memory and learning in laboratory animals.
These uses are investigational. Pinealon is not FDA-approved, and the effects described above come mainly from in-vitro and rodent work, most of it originating from the Khavinson group and collaborating Russian research teams, with limited independent replication. No controlled human clinical trial has confirmed these outcomes. The descriptions here reflect what the compound is studied or discussed in relation to, not confirmed or approved benefits.
Status
- Regulatory status: Not FDA-approved. Pinealon has no approved indication in the United States and is sold and handled as a research chemical, typically labeled not for human consumption. It is not on the FDA Section 503A bulk drug substances list for compounding, and there is no registered Western clinical trial for it.
- Sport status: Not specifically listed on the WADA Prohibited List by name. As a substance without regulatory approval for human therapeutic use, it can fall under the broad S0 Non-Approved Substances catch-all, which covers any pharmacological substance not currently addressed by other sections of the list and not approved by any governmental regulatory health authority for human use. That is a general umbrella provision rather than a specific listing.
Reconstitution notes (general)
Concentration equals the milligrams of peptide in the vial divided by the millilitres of bacteriostatic water added. For example, a 20 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water yields 10 mg/mL, while the same vial with 3 mL yields about 6.7 mg/mL. To work out a target concentration for any vial size, use the reconstitution calculator.
Dilution and handling notes (compound-specific)
Pinealon ships as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder that is reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before use. Vials are commonly supplied in the 10 mg to 20 mg range, and typical practice adds roughly 1 to 3 mL of bacteriostatic water, giving working concentrations in the rough range of about 6 to 10 mg/mL. A smaller water volume gives a more concentrated solution and lower draw volumes, while a larger volume makes small measurements easier to read.
As a short, highly polar tripeptide built from charged residues (glutamate, aspartate, and arginine), Pinealon is very water-soluble and typically goes into solution quickly and cleanly on contact with the water. It generally does not gel, cloud, or persistently precipitate at the concentrations above, which contrasts with larger or more hydrophobic peptides that can haze or leave undissolved cake. The main practical quirk is temperature: reconstituting with cold water, or working with a vial straight from cold storage, can encourage uneven dissolution, so letting both the powder and the water reach room temperature first is the common fix. Direct the water stream gently down the inner glass wall rather than onto the powder, let the vial stand for a minute or two, and swirl gently if anything remains. Avoid shaking, since agitation foams the solution and can stress the peptide. The powder and the finished solution are also light sensitive, so keep vials out of direct light and return them to cold storage promptly. A properly reconstituted vial should look clear and particle-free.
Handling and storage
Refrigerate the reconstituted solution at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and keep it out of light. Wipe the rubber stopper with alcohol before each needle puncture, and label the vial with the mix date. Observe the general roughly 4-week refrigerated window for a reconstituted vial, and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, aliquoting into single-use volumes if longer storage is needed. Discard any vial that turns cloudy or discolored or that shows floaters or particulates.
Related reading
Tools and supplies
- Reconstitution & blend calculators
- Bacteriostatic Water 30 ml
- Gansulin Metal Reusable Pen
- 3 ml Glass Cartridges (10-pack)
- Complete Starter Kit
For laboratory and research reference only. Educational content, not medical, dosing, injection, or therapeutic guidance, and not intended for human or animal use. Any research uses described are investigational and not confirmed or approved benefits. Confirm anything involving health with a licensed professional. References linked above.