Longevity & Mitochondrial

Epithalon, Epithalone, AEDG peptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly

A synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed by Vladimir Khavinson and derived from the pineal peptide preparation epithalamin. It is promoted around telomerase activation, telomere lengthening, and anti-aging effects, but most supporting studies come from a single research group, are older and small, and have seen little independent replication. Human evidence is very limited and it is not approved anywhere.

FOXO4 D-Retro-Inverso peptide, FOXO4-DRI, Proxofim, FOXO4-DRI (D-retro-inverso)

An experimental senolytic peptide — a cell-penetrating, protease-resistant D-retro-inverso peptide designed to disrupt the FOXO4–p53 interaction and trigger apoptosis preferentially in senescent ("zombie") cells. Evidence is strictly preclinical (mouse and cell culture). Not approved for human use.

GSH, L-Glutathione (reduced), gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine, Reduced glutathione, Setria (branded oral), Tationil (branded IV, abroad)

An endogenous tripeptide (gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine) that is the body's principal intracellular antioxidant and redox buffer. Unlike most compounds discussed alongside peptides, this one genuinely is a peptide. It is sold as an oral, liposomal, and injectable supplement and is heavily marketed for "detox," immune support, liver health, and cosmetic skin-lightening, but disease-outcome efficacy in humans is largely unproven. It is not FDA- or EMA-approved as a drug; oral forms are US dietary supplements and injectable use has been the subject of FDA safety warnings.

HN, MT-RNR2 peptide, HNG analog (S14G-humanin)

A small mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA (MT-RNR2) region, originally identified in Alzheimer's disease research and studied mainly in cells and animals for cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic, metabolic, and neuroprotective effects. Circulating levels decline with age. It is not an approved medicine, and there are no completed human therapeutic trials of administered humanin.

KEDA, Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala, H-Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala-OH, Livagen peptide

A synthetic tetrapeptide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala / KEDA) from Vladimir Khavinson's "peptide bioregulator" school, marketed as a liver / anti-aging bioregulator. The only substantive evidence is a small body of older, mostly-Russian ex vivo studies on cultured lymphocytes from elderly people; there are no in vivo human clinical trials. Not approved for human use.

Methylthioninium chloride, Methylthionine chloride, Basic Blue 9, Swiss blue, CI 52015, MB, ProvayBlue (brand), Proveblue (brand)

A synthetic phenothiazine redox dye (methylthioninium chloride) and a small molecule — not a peptide — that is frequently discussed alongside peptides in nootropic and longevity circles. As a medicine it is genuinely approved: FDA-approved (ProvayBlue, 2016) and EMA-approved (Proveblue, 2011) as an intravenous treatment for acquired/drug-induced methemoglobinemia, where it accelerates the enzymatic reduction of methemoglobin (Fe3+) back to functional hemoglobin (Fe2+). Its popularity as a low-dose "mitochondrial" nootropic rests on a separate, largely preclinical rationale, and that use is off-label and not an approved indication.

Mitochondrial ORF of the twelve S rRNA type-c, MOTSc, Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c

A 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) region, studied mainly in cells and mice as a regulator of metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and AMPK signaling, with proposed exercise-mimetic and longevity-related effects. It is not approved as a medicine, and there are no completed human therapeutic trials of the native peptide.

NAD+, Nadide, beta-NAD, beta-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, Diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN), Coenzyme I, NAD (oxidized form)

An endogenous pyridine dinucleotide coenzyme (redox cofactor) central to cellular energy metabolism and the consumed substrate for sirtuins, PARPs and CD38 — a small metabolite, NOT a peptide. Tissue levels fall with age, so NAD+ and its precursors are heavily marketed for "longevity and energy," but human evidence is limited to small pilot studies and no longevity benefit is established. IV/injectable NAD+ is not FDA- or EMA-approved; it is sold as a compounded preparation (503A/503B) or as a dietary supplement, and the FDA has issued recalls and safety warnings.

SLU PP 332, SLUPP332, pan-ERR agonist SLU-PP-332

A synthetic small-molecule pan-agonist of the estrogen-related receptors (ERRα/β/γ), studied as an "exercise mimetic." It is NOT a peptide — it is a low-molecular-weight organic compound (benzamide/hydrazide class; PubChem CID 5338394, formula C18H14N2O2, MW ~290.3). In mice it activates an ERRα-dependent aerobic-exercise gene program, boosts endurance and fatty-acid oxidation, and reduces fat mass in obese models. Evidence is strictly preclinical (rodent and cell); there are no human trials and no regulatory approval by the FDA, EMA, or any major regulator.

Elamipretide, MTP-131, Bendavia, SS-31 peptide

A synthetic, mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide (also called elamipretide) that concentrates on the inner mitochondrial membrane and binds the phospholipid cardiolipin, helping stabilize cristae structure and improve electron-transport efficiency. It has been studied in numerous human trials; in 2025 the elamipretide hydrochloride form received FDA accelerated approval for Barth syndrome, while several other trials missed their primary endpoints.

Vesilut, Glu-Asp (claimed), ED dipeptide (claimed), L-alpha-Glutamyl-L-aspartic acid (claimed identity)

"Vesilute" is a trade/market name used by research-peptide vendors, not a compound with standing in any primary scientific or regulatory source. It has zero hits in PubMed, PubMed Central, and cosmetic/regulatory databases, and "Vesilute" is not listed among the synonyms of the Glu-Asp dipeptide that vendors claim it to be. All efficacy claims come from marketing pages, not clinical data. Not approved for human use anywhere.