--- title: "Crystagen: Research & Evidence | BodyHackGuide" url: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/crystagen description: "Crystagen: mechanism, clinical studies & side effects." lang: en --- Skip to content Compare notes on r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) Compare notes with other researchers. Join r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) Image: Crystagen molecular structure (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug/compound/cid/23624313/PNG?image_size=300x300) # Crystagen Bioregulator Peptide (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/wiki#cat-bioregulator-peptide)Preclinical Also known as: Glu-Asp-Pro, EDP, H-Glu-Asp-Pro-OH, L-glutamyl-L-aspartyl-L-proline Crystagen is a synthetic tripeptide with the amino acid sequence Glu-Asp-Pro (EDP) from Vladimir Khavinson's short-peptide program at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, whose 2022 table of short peptides lists Crystagen as an immunoprotector (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). Price check No vendor listings yet We do not track a vendor for Crystagen yet. Compare other compounds: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare Half-life: No published human value MW: 359.33 g/mol Last reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 ## Overview ### At A Glance Mechanism Proposed mechanism… Half-Life No published human value; PubMed lists no pharmacokinetic study of Crystagen in people or animals Potential Benefits Spontaneous proliferation of normal human lymphocytes in culture (2011 study of the tripeptide Glu-Asp-Pro, coded T-36) Cell proliferation in skin explants from young rats (2012 study of Glu-Asp-Pro, coded T-36) B-cell activation in ageing spleen tissue (2014 Russian-language study) ### Mechanism of Action ### Proposed mechanism The Khavinson group's general model holds that short peptides of two to seven amino acids can enter the cell nucleus and bind histone proteins and DNA, changing which genes are switched on (gene expression) (PMID: 34834147). For Crystagen, the evidence for this model is computational. A 2016 docking study (a computer simulation of how two molecules fit together) built models of 19 short peptides bound to DNA and reported that EDP and the dipeptide Lys-Glu share a preferred binding site, the DNA sequence agat (PMID: 27909961). The group's 2022 review scored the predicted binding of Crystagen and 26 other short peptides to LAT1, a transporter that carries amino acids into cells, again by docking (PMID: 35887081). No PubMed record reports an experiment measuring Crystagen binding to DNA or to LAT1. ### Link to thymalin The group describes Glu-Asp-Pro as one of the active components of thymalin, a peptide drug made from thymus extract, together with the dipeptides Glu-Trp and Lys-Glu (PMID: 33575961). The 2022 table labels Crystagen an immunoprotector and supports that label with a 2011 United States patent rather than a published study (PMID: 35887081). ### Effects measured in cells and tissue Human cells in culture: in a 2011 cell study, a tripeptide coded T-36 increased the spontaneous proliferation (cell division) of normal human lymphocytes at 0.1 ng/ml (PMID: 22485217). A 2012 paper from the same institute identifies T-36 as Glu-Asp-Pro, the Crystagen sequence; the link to Crystagen rests on that sequence match, since neither paper names Crystagen (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). Animal tissue in culture: in the 2012 paper, Glu-Asp-Pro (coded T-36) stimulated cell proliferation in skin explants (small pieces of tissue kept alive in a dish) from young rats (PMID: 22803085). Spleen tissue, model not stated in the English abstract: a Russian-language paper reported that Crystagen activated B cells in ageing spleen tissue but did not produce cell renewal there (PMID: 28976144). ### What is not known No receptor or binding partner for Crystagen has been confirmed by experiment. PubMed holds no pharmacokinetic study of Crystagen in people or animals, so its absorption, distribution and clearance are unknown. ### Overview Crystagen is a synthetic tripeptide with the amino acid sequence Glu-Asp-Pro (EDP) from Vladimir Khavinson's short-peptide program at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, whose 2022 table of short peptides lists Crystagen as an immunoprotector (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). Every PubMed-indexed study of Crystagen comes from that group or its collaborators, and the published work consists of cell and tissue studies and computer modeling, mostly in Russian journals and their English translations. PubMed lists no study of Crystagen in people, and Crystagen has no entry in the FDA's Drugs@FDA database. ### Potential Research Fields Immunology Gerontology Short peptide bioregulators Cell biology ## Chemical Information IUPAC Name Not yet available CAS Number Not yet available Molecular Formula C14H21N3O8 Molecular Mass 359.33 g/mol View on PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23624313 ## Dosing & Protocols Dosing protocols are being compiled for this compound. ## Research ### Unlock the research summary Enter your email to keep reading. It is free, and it opens these tabs on every compound page in this browser. - A summary of the key research - Safety and side effects - A link to the PubMed results You also get the free peptide cheat sheet by email. Unsubscribe anytime. Have an account? Sign in (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/auth) ## Interactions ### Contraindications No contraindications for Crystagen have been studied. A mechanism-based caution follows from the cell work: the published studies describe effects on immune cells, including increased lymphocyte proliferation (PMID: 22485217) and B-cell activation (PMID: 28976144). No study has examined Crystagen in people with immune or autoimmune disease, in people taking immune-modifying drugs, in pregnancy or in children. Research Disclaimer This interaction data is compiled from published research and community reports. It may not be exhaustive. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining compounds. No listings found for Crystagen. ### Sign in to leave a review Reviews on BodyHackGuide are tied to verified user accounts and moderated before publishing. Sign in (free, no spam) to share your experience with Crystagen. ### Related Compounds View All (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/wiki) ### Epitalon Bioregulator Peptide Preclinical Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed by Vladimir Khavinson at the St. t½ ~30-60 minutes (peptide; biological effects extend long beyond plasma clearance) 47 PubMed View Profile https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/epitalon ### Pancragen Bioregulator Peptide Clinical (two small human studies) Pancragen is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2 (KEDW-NH2), from Vladimir Khavinson's St. t½ No published human value; no pharmacokinetic study of Pancragen in people or animals is indexed in PubMed Preclinical View Profile https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/pancragen ### Pineleon Bioregulator Peptide Preclinical Pineleon is a multi-peptide bioregulator blend combining motifs from the Khavinson-school short peptides — typically Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg, a pineal-gland-derived tripeptide) along with epigenetic-tier short peptides like Epitalon and Cortexin-derived sequences. t½ ~variable (constituent peptides range 30 min to several hours) 2 PubMed View Profile https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/pineleon View Full Dosage Guide → Protocols, calculator & safety for Crystagen https://www.bodyhackguide.co/guides/dosage/crystagen ### Price check No vendor listings yet See the vendor scorecard (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/scorecard) ### Research Score 30 0 PubMed results ### Quality Indicators Data Completeness 50% Description Mechanism of Action Chemical Data Dosing Protocols Safety Profile PubMed Results Interactions Vendor Listings ### Quick Facts Half-Life Molecular Weight 359.33 g/mol Trial Phase Preclinical Research Disclaimer This information is for educational and research purposes only. Not intended as medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before use. ## Frequently Asked Questions What is Crystagen? Crystagen is a synthetic tripeptide with the amino acid sequence Glu-Asp-Pro (EDP) (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). Crystagen comes from Vladimir Khavinson's short-peptide program at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, which lists Crystagen as an immunoprotector in a 2022 table of short peptides (PMID: 35887081). Which tissue or system is Crystagen linked to? The Khavinson group links Crystagen to the immune system and labels Crystagen an immunoprotector (PMID: 35887081). The Khavinson group describes Glu-Asp-Pro, the sequence of Crystagen, as one of the active components of thymalin, a peptide drug made from thymus extract (PMID: 33575961; PMID: 35887081). Has Crystagen been tested in humans? PubMed lists no study in which Crystagen was given to people. The only human material in Crystagen research is human cells grown in a dish: in a 2011 study, the tripeptide coded T-36, which a 2012 paper from the same institute identifies as Glu-Asp-Pro, the Crystagen sequence, increased spontaneous proliferation of normal human lymphocytes at 0.1 ng/ml (PMID: 22485217; PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). What did the laboratory studies of Crystagen find? The tripeptide Glu-Asp-Pro, the Crystagen sequence, which a 2012 study coded T-36, stimulated cell proliferation in skin explants from young rats (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). A Russian-language paper reported that Crystagen activated B cells in ageing spleen tissue but did not produce cell renewal there (PMID: 28976144). Computer docking studies predicted that EDP, the Crystagen sequence, binds the DNA sequence agat (PMID: 27909961; PMID: 35887081) and that Crystagen binds the amino-acid transporter LAT1 (PMID: 35887081). No PubMed record reports an experiment measuring Crystagen binding to either target. Who has studied Crystagen? Every PubMed-indexed study of Crystagen comes from Vladimir Khavinson's institute in St. Petersburg or its collaborators. Crystagen research has appeared in Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, the English edition of a Russian journal, and in the Russian-language journal Advances in Gerontology. No independent replication of the Crystagen findings appears in PubMed. Is Crystagen approved by the FDA? Crystagen is not approved by the FDA and has no entry in the Drugs@FDA database (searched 20 October 2026). PubMed lists no clinical trial of Crystagen. What is the chemical identity of Crystagen? Crystagen, written H-Glu-Asp-Pro-OH, has the formula C14H21N3O8 and a molecular weight of 359.33 g/mol in PubChem (CID 23624313). PubChem lists no CAS registry number for Crystagen. ## Research Tools ### Peptide Calculator Reconstitution & syringe units https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/reconstitution ### Reconstitution Guide How to mix, step by step https://www.bodyhackguide.co/guides/how-to-reconstitute-peptides ### Nasal Spray Calc mL per actuation https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/intranasal ### Half-Life Visualizer Decay curves https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/halflife ## You may also like ### Epithalon Longevity & Cellular Health View product (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/buy/epithalon) ### DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) Cognition, Mood & Neuroprotection View product (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/buy/dsip) ### BPC-157 Injury, Repair & Recovery View product (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/buy/bpc-157) ### CJC-1295 (Mod GRF 1-29) Growth Hormone / IGF-1 Axis View product (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/buy/cjc-1295) ## Related Compounds ### Epitalon Bioregulator Peptide Preclinical ### Pancragen ### Pineleon Bioregulator Peptide Preclinical Free 2026 Peptide Cheat Sheet (PDF) 38 compounds and blends: vial sizes, BAC water volumes, dosing ranges and bloodwork markers. Download Free (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/guides/peptide-cheat-sheet-download) ### Need bloodwork before starting? Full hormone + metabolic panels from Anabolic Insights. Code CHONCH for first-order discount. Image: BodyHackGuide (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/assets/bodyhackguide-logo-DOzZNUyh.webp) ### BodyHackGuide Your biohacking research hub: compound pricing, brain health protocols, dosing tools, and vendor reviews. support@bodyhackguide.co Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/Mhq5UdRYBA r/BodyHackGuide on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/BodyHackGuide #### Explore - Compare prices: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare - Vendors: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors - Deals: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/deals - Coupons: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/coupons - Nootropics: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/nootropics - Brain health: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/brain-health - Blog: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/blog - Guides: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/guides #### Tools - Reconstitution: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/reconstitution - Half-life visualizer: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/halflife - COA reader: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/coa - Cost calculator: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools/cost-calculator - Stack builder: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/stack-builder - All tools: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/tools #### Trust & vendors - Vendor directory: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors - Trust scorecard: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/scorecard - Vendor trust badge: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/get-vetted - Scoring methodology: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/methodology - Peptide cheat sheet: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/guides/peptide-cheat-sheet-download #### Company - About: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/about - Affiliate disclosure: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/affiliate-disclosure - Editorial standards: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/editorial-standards - Creators: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/creators - Coaches: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/coaches - 1-on-1 coaching: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/coaching - Privacy: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/privacy - Terms: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/terms - Full site directory: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/site-directory **Affiliate Disclosure:** We rank every vendor on the same public, reproducible methodology (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/methodology), and we earn a commission from purchases made through some of our links at no extra cost to you. 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All rights reserved. · Terms (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/terms) · Privacy (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/privacy) ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.bodyhackguide.co/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Compounds", "item": "https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Crystagen" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "MedicalWebPage", "name": "Crystagen", "description": "Crystagen is a synthetic tripeptide with the amino acid sequence Glu-Asp-Pro (EDP) from Vladimir Khavinson's short-peptide program at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, whose 2022 table of short peptides lists Crystagen as an immunoprotector (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). 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Every PubMed-indexed study of Crystagen comes from that group or its collaborators, and the published work consists of cell and tissue studies and computer modeling, mostly in Russian journals and their English translations. PubMed lists no study of Crystagen in people, and Crystagen has no entry in the FDA's Drugs@FDA database.", "activeIngredient": "Crystagen", "mechanismOfAction": "Proposed mechanism The Khavinson group's general model holds that short peptides of two to seven amino acids can enter the cell nucleus and bind histone proteins and DNA, changing which genes are switched on (gene expression) (PMID: 34834147). For Crystagen, the evidence for this model is computational. A 2016 docking study (a computer simulation of how two molecules fit together) built models of 19 short peptides bound to DNA and reported that EDP and the dipeptide Lys-Glu share a preferred binding site, the DNA sequence agat (PMID: 27909961). The group's 2022 review scored the predicted binding of Crystagen and 26 other short peptides to LAT1, a transporter that carries amino acids into cells, again by docking (PMID: 35887081). No PubMed record reports an experiment measuring Crystagen binding to DNA or to LAT1. Link to thymalin The group describes Glu-Asp-Pro as one of the active components of thymalin, a peptide drug made from thymus extract, together with the dipeptides Glu-Trp and Lys-Glu (PMID: 33575961). The 2022 table labels Crystagen an immunoprotector and supports that label with a 2011 United States patent rather than a published study (PMID: 35887081). Effects measured in cells and tissue Human cells in culture: in a 2011 cell study, a tripeptide coded T-36 increased the spontaneous proliferation (cell division) of normal human lymphocytes at 0.1 ng/ml (PMID: 22485217). A 2012 paper from the same institute identifies T-36 as Glu-Asp-Pro, the Crystagen sequence; the link to Crystagen rests on that sequence match, since neither paper names Crystagen (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). Animal tissue in culture: in the 2012 paper, Glu-Asp-Pro (coded T-36) stimulated cell proliferation in skin explants (small pieces of tissue kept alive in a dish) from young rats (PMID: 22803085). Spleen tissue, model not stated in the English abstract: a Russian-language paper reported that Crystagen activated B cells in ageing spleen tissue but did not produce cell renewal there (PMID: 28976144). What is not known No receptor or binding partner for Crystagen has been confirmed by experiment. PubMed holds no pharmacokinetic study of Crystagen in people or animals, so its absorption, distribution and clearance are unknown.", "legalStatus": "Not approved for human use (research chemical)", "warning": "For research purposes only. Not for human consumption." } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is Crystagen?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Crystagen is a synthetic tripeptide with the amino acid sequence Glu-Asp-Pro (EDP) (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). Crystagen comes from Vladimir Khavinson's short-peptide program at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, which lists Crystagen as an immunoprotector in a 2022 table of short peptides (PMID: 35887081)." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which tissue or system is Crystagen linked to?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Khavinson group links Crystagen to the immune system and labels Crystagen an immunoprotector (PMID: 35887081). The Khavinson group describes Glu-Asp-Pro, the sequence of Crystagen, as one of the active components of thymalin, a peptide drug made from thymus extract (PMID: 33575961; PMID: 35887081)." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Has Crystagen been tested in humans?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "PubMed lists no study in which Crystagen was given to people. The only human material in Crystagen research is human cells grown in a dish: in a 2011 study, the tripeptide coded T-36, which a 2012 paper from the same institute identifies as Glu-Asp-Pro, the Crystagen sequence, increased spontaneous proliferation of normal human lymphocytes at 0.1 ng/ml (PMID: 22485217; PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081)." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What did the laboratory studies of Crystagen find?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The tripeptide Glu-Asp-Pro, the Crystagen sequence, which a 2012 study coded T-36, stimulated cell proliferation in skin explants from young rats (PMID: 22803085; PMID: 35887081). A Russian-language paper reported that Crystagen activated B cells in ageing spleen tissue but did not produce cell renewal there (PMID: 28976144). Computer docking studies predicted that EDP, the Crystagen sequence, binds the DNA sequence agat (PMID: 27909961; PMID: 35887081) and that Crystagen binds the amino-acid transporter LAT1 (PMID: 35887081). No PubMed record reports an experiment measuring Crystagen binding to either target." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who has studied Crystagen?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Every PubMed-indexed study of Crystagen comes from Vladimir Khavinson's institute in St. Petersburg or its collaborators. Crystagen research has appeared in Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, the English edition of a Russian journal, and in the Russian-language journal Advances in Gerontology. 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