MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: Educational research guidelines only. Lyophilized peptides are investigational chemical compounds and are NOT approved for human consumption, diagnosis, or therapy. Consult a licensed physician before any research application.
Zhenoluten Dosage Chart, Schedule & Reconstitution Protocol
Quickstart Highlights
Zhenoluten (Ovary Cytomax A-15) is the ovary-targeted Khavinson peptide bioregulator: a natural complex of low-molecular-weight peptides (up to ~5000 Da) extracted from ovarian tissue and developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Like other Cytomax preparations it is hypothesized to enter ovarian cells and modulate tissue-specific gene expression rather than bind a surface receptor (PMID 34834147). A manufacturer clinical study report in 67 women described reduced FSH and LH, increased estradiol, partial restoration of menstrual cycles in exhausted ovary syndrome, and fewer hot flashes in climacteric syndrome after a 30-day course, with no reported side effects - though it was a small, non-blinded study. The standard regimen is one 10 mg capsule twice daily (20 mg/day) for 30 days, repeated as 10-day courses two to three times per year. It is taken orally; the subcutaneous reconstitution figures here are an educational reference only. Zhenoluten is not FDA- or EMA-approved.
Reconstitute: Add 1 mL bacteriostatic water → 20 mg/mL concentration.
Typical dose: 20 mg/day orally (10 mg twice daily)
Easy measuring: At 20 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL = 0.2 mg (200 mcg) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
Storage: Real-world oral capsules: store in a cool, dry place at room temperature, away from light and moisture. For the educational injectable model: keep the lyophilized vial at -20 °C long term or 2-8 °C for short periods, protected from light; once reconstituted, refrigerate at 2-8 °C and use within about 3-4 weeks.
Half-life: Not formally characterized; the small peptides are expected to be hydrolyzed within minutes, with effects attributed to downstream gene-expression changes that outlast the peptide, hence short pulsed courses.
Route: Oral 10 mg capsules (low intact-peptide bioavailability); this page models a twice-daily subcutaneous reconstitution reference, a route not clinically validated for Zhenoluten.
Status: Not FDA- or EMA-approved; marketed as an oral peptide supplement or sold for research use only, with efficacy data limited to a small manufacturer/institute report.
About Zhenoluten
Zhenoluten is the ovary-targeted member of Khavinson's peptide bioregulator (Cytomax) family: a natural, low-molecular-weight peptide complex extracted from ovarian tissue and studied for support of female reproductive and climacteric health [1][3]. Clinically and commercially it is taken ORALLY as 10 mg capsules; the subcutaneous reconstitution figures below are an educational measurement reference modeled on this site's convention, not the real-world route.\n\nThis guide models a 20 mg vial reconstituted with 1.0 mL of bacteriostatic water (20 mg/mL) so the doses map cleanly onto a U-100 insulin syringe: a 10 mg administration is 0.5 mL (50 units) and a 20 mg administration is 1.0 mL (100 units). The most-cited Zhenoluten dosage is one 10 mg capsule twice daily (20 mg/day) for a 30-day intensive course, with shorter 10-day maintenance courses repeated roughly every three months [1].\n\nFrequency: Two administrations per day (real-world: one 10 mg capsule by mouth twice daily, with meals). Zhenoluten is not FDA- or EMA-approved and is presented here for educational purposes only, not as medical advice.
Quick Protocol Navigation
Reconstitution Instruction & Mixing Step-by-Step
Lyophilized powder must be reconstituted carefully. Agitating peptide chains can shear disulfide bonds and render the peptide biologically inert.
Draw 1.0 mL of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
Inject it slowly down the inner wall of the 20 mg Zhenoluten vial; do not spray it directly onto the lyophilized powder.
Gently swirl or roll the vial until the powder fully dissolves into a clear solution; never shake, which can shear the peptides and cause foaming.
The result is 20 mg/mL, so a 10 mg administration is 0.5 mL (50 units) and a 20 mg administration is 1.0 mL (100 units) on a U-100 insulin syringe; swab the stopper and draw your dose.
Educational note: Zhenoluten is taken orally as 10 mg capsules in real use; if modeling subcutaneous administration, inject slowly without aspirating, keep the vial refrigerated at 2-8 °C between uses, and discard after about 3-4 weeks.
Interactive Zhenoluten Syringe Calculator
Currently visualizing the 20 mg vial reconstituted with 1 mL bacteriostatic water. Adjust the target dose to dynamically render syringe units.
Reconstitution Calculation: 20mg dry powder in 1mL water yields 20.00 mg/mL. To evaluate a 250mcg dose, pull to 1.3 units (1 syringe ticks).
U-100 Syringe Representation
Educational reference visual. Assumes standard U-100 insulin syringe where 1.0 mL volume = 100 units.
Titration & Dose Escalation Schedules
| Phase | Dose per injection | Units (per injection) |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive course - 10 mg per dose, twice daily (20 mg/day) for 30 days | 10000 mcg (10 mg) | 50 units (0.50 mL) |
| Maintenance course - 10 mg per dose, twice daily (20 mg/day) for 10 days, repeated every 3 months | 10000 mcg (10 mg) | 50 units (0.50 mL) |
| High-need course - 20 mg per dose, twice daily (40 mg/day) for select cases | 20000 mcg (20 mg) | 100 units (1.00 mL) |
Administration guidelines: Refer to guidelines | 1 mL Reconstitution
Research Supplies Quantity Planner
Scientific mathematical planning of syringes, bacteriostatic water and dry vials needed for extended research blocks using the 20 mg vial.
Peptide Vials (Zhenoluten, 20 mg each):
- checkAt the modeled 20 mg/day (10 mg twice daily), one 20 mg vial covers a single day, so a 30-day intensive course maps to about 30 vials and a 10-day maintenance course to about 10 vials.
- check8-week continuous equivalent: about 56 vials.
- check12-week continuous equivalent: about 84 vials.
- check16-week continuous equivalent: about 112 vials - the high count illustrates why this peptide complex is taken orally as 10 mg capsules rather than injected.
Insulin Syringes (U-100):
- checkOne 0.5 mL (50-unit) syringe per administration, two per day (about 14 per week).
- check8 weeks: about 112 syringes.
- check12 weeks: about 168 syringes.
- check16 weeks: about 224 syringes.
Bacteriostatic Water (30 mL bottles): Use 1 mL per vial for reconstitution.
- checkEach reconstituted 20 mg vial uses 1 mL of bacteriostatic water.
- check8 weeks (~56 vials): about 56 mL, roughly two 30 mL bottles.
- check12 weeks (~84 vials): about 84 mL, roughly three 30 mL bottles.
- check16 weeks (~112 vials): about 112 mL, roughly four 30 mL bottles.
Alcohol Swabs: clean the vial stopper and injection site before each use.
- checkUse 2 swabs per administration (vial top plus skin), about 28 per week.
- check8 weeks: about 224 swabs.
- check12 weeks: about 336 swabs.
- check16 weeks: about 448 swabs (a 500-count box covers a full course).
Mechanism of Action (MOA)
Zhenoluten (Ovary Cytomax A-15) is the ovary-targeted member of the Khavinson "Cytomax" peptide-bioregulator family, developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology [1][3]. Unlike the synthetic short "Cytogen" peptides (such as the cardiac tetrapeptide AEDR), a Cytomax is a natural extract: a complex of low-molecular-weight peptides with molecular weight up to roughly 5000 Da, isolated from the ovarian tissue of young animals. It is therefore not a single defined molecule but a tissue-specific peptide mixture [1].\n\nThe proposed mechanism follows the general Khavinson bioregulator hypothesis. Rather than acting on a cell-surface receptor, these short, charged peptides are thought to be small enough to enter the cytoplasm and nucleus, where they bind specific nucleotide sequences in gene-promoter regions, locally destabilize the DNA double helix, and modulate transcription of a tissue-appropriate set of genes [2][4]. Applied to the ovary, the model holds that the peptide complex helps restore protein synthesis and cellular maintenance in ovarian follicular and granulosa cells, supporting function that declines with age. Fluorescence-labeled Khavinson peptides have been shown to penetrate the nucleus and nucleolus of cultured cells and to bind DNA oligonucleotides in vitro, lending experimental plausibility to this mechanism [4], and independent authors have catalogued these di- to tetrapeptides as endogenous epigenetic modulators [5].\n\nFunctionally, the manufacturer's clinical study report describes downstream effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis: after a 30-day course, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) fell while estradiol rose in women with exhausted ovary syndrome, with reduced hot-flash frequency in climacteric patients [1]. These are the biomarker shifts one would expect from improved ovarian responsiveness, though the report is a small, non-blinded institute study rather than an independent randomized trial.\n\nPharmacokinetics have not been formally characterized for Zhenoluten. As a mixture of small unmodified peptides it is expected to be rapidly hydrolyzed by gastrointestinal and plasma peptidases, giving a free-peptide half-life on the order of minutes; oral bioavailability of intact peptides is low, which is why the product uses capsules and why any sustained effect is attributed to downstream gene-expression changes that outlast the peptide rather than to a circulating drug level. This rationale also explains the pulsed dosing pattern (short courses repeated seasonally) rather than continuous use [3][7].\n\nClinically and commercially, Zhenoluten is taken by mouth as 10 mg capsules; the twice-daily subcutaneous reconstitution scheme on this page is an educational measurement convention used across this site, not a validated route for this compound. Zhenoluten is not approved as a drug by the FDA or EMA and should be regarded as an oral peptide supplement or research material only.
Clinical Trial Efficacy Highlights
- starThe manufacturer/institute clinical study report on Zhenoluten (Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, 2011) studied 67 women - 39 with mild-to-moderate climacteric syndrome (ages 45-53) and 28 with exhausted ovary syndrome (ages 38-43) - given one 10 mg capsule twice daily for 30 days; it reported hot-flash frequency falling from 72% to about 32%, FSH dropping from roughly 89 to 47 mU/mL and LH from 28 to 16 mU/mL in climacteric patients, and in exhausted ovary syndrome FSH falling from about 115 to 56 mU/mL, LH from 47 to 29 mU/mL, estradiol rising from 51 to 88 pmol/L, with 67% achieving menstrual-cycle normalization [1]. This is a small, non-blinded report from the developer, not an independent randomized trial.
- starA 2021 systematic review in Molecules summarizing the Khavinson short-peptide program describes how 2-7 residue peptides and tissue-specific extracts regulate gene expression and protein synthesis; it provides the mechanistic rationale invoked for ovary-targeted bioregulators such as Zhenoluten but reports no independent human ovarian efficacy data [2].
- starFedoreyeva and colleagues (2011) demonstrated with fluorescence-labeled Khavinson peptides that such short peptides penetrate the cytoplasm, nucleus, and nucleolus of cultured cells and bind specific DNA oligonucleotide sequences in vitro, lending experimental plausibility to the nuclear DNA-binding mechanism proposed for the Cytomax/Cytogen class [4].
- starYue and colleagues (2022, Aging) showed that the Khavinson-derived pineal tetrapeptide Epitalon protected mouse oocytes from post-ovulatory aging in vitro - reducing reactive oxygen species, preserving spindle integrity and mitochondrial function, and lowering apoptosis - illustrating that this peptide family can act on ovarian/reproductive cells, though this is a different peptide and an in-vitro model that cannot be extrapolated to Zhenoluten in women [6].
- starAnisimov and Khavinson (2010, Biogerontology) reviewed long-term animal studies in which peptide bioregulators increased mean lifespan by roughly 20-40%, slowed age-related biomarker changes, and suppressed spontaneous and induced tumorigenesis in rodents; this is the broad class-level geroprotector evidence behind the bioregulator concept, not Zhenoluten-specific efficacy [7].
- starKorkushko, Khavinson, and colleagues (2011) reported in a 15-year randomized follow-up that the pineal bioregulator epithalamin slowed physiological aging and lowered mortality in elderly patients - the strongest clinical signal for the Khavinson peptide family - but it studied a different peptide and cannot be assumed to apply to the ovary preparation [8].
- starJanssens and colleagues (2019, Clinical Epigenetics) independently catalogued Khavinson di- to tetrapeptides as endogenous epigenetic modulators capable of acting as DNA-methylation influences, situating the Cytomax/Cytogen concept within a broader, externally authored peptide-epigenetics literature [5].
- starKhavinson's overarching "Peptides and Ageing" review lays out the tissue-specific geroprotector framework under which the ovary bioregulator was designed, but it presents the ovary preparation as part of a preclinical, organ-targeted concept rather than a clinically validated therapy with confirmatory independent trials [3].
Side Effects & Tolerability Profile
Clinical subjects transiently report mild side effects. Slowly escalating the titration dose represents the single most effective intervention to limit side effects.
- warningThe developer's clinical study report stated that administration of Zhenoluten produced no observed side effects, complications, or drug dependence over a 30-day course [1]; however, this was a small, short, non-blinded study and should not be read as proof of long-term safety.
- warningThere are no independent, controlled human safety data for Zhenoluten, so its true adverse-effect profile is largely uncharacterized; the points below are extrapolated from the bioregulator class and general peptide use.
- warningTaken as intended (oral capsules) the product is generally reported to be well tolerated, with rare individual hypersensitivity or gastrointestinal upset; anyone with a known allergy to animal-derived proteins should be cautious because Cytomax preparations are tissue extracts.
- warningIf modeled by the subcutaneous route shown on this page (an educational reference, not the real route), injection could cause local reactions such as redness, itching, swelling, bruising, or pain, and any injected peptide carries a theoretical risk of immune or hypersensitivity reactions.
- warningResearch-grade and animal-tissue-derived peptide products are not manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, so contamination, endotoxin, immunogenicity, or inaccurate content cannot be excluded; sterility and purity should not be assumed.
- warningBecause Zhenoluten is described as influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and sex-hormone levels, people with hormone-sensitive conditions (for example estrogen-related cancers, undiagnosed abnormal bleeding) should avoid it without specialist oversight; there are no drug-interaction studies.
- warningZhenoluten has not been evaluated in pregnancy or breastfeeding and is not intended for use in those situations or in children; use during pregnancy or lactation is advised against without physician guidance.
- warningRegulatory status: Zhenoluten is not approved by the FDA, EMA, or any major regulator as a drug; it is marketed as an oral peptide supplement in some regions and otherwise sold for research use only, so nothing here should be read as a claim that it is safe or effective for treating any condition.
Subcutaneous Injection Technique
Most research peptides require subcutaneous injection into fatty tissue. Never inject directly into a blood vessel or deep muscle tissue unless clinically detailed.
1. Site Selection
Common locations include the abdomen (2 inches from navel), outer upper arms, or thighs.
2. Sanitization
Thoroughly clean the selected site, stopper and vial top using 70% isopropyl alcohol prep swabs.
3. Angle & Push
Pinch the skin and insert the needle at a 45 to 90-degree angle. Depress plunger smoothly.
4. Site Rotation
Rotate injection sites continuously to avoid lipodystrophy or tissue scarring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical Zhenoluten dosage?expand_more
The most commonly cited Zhenoluten dosage is one 10 mg capsule taken twice daily by mouth (20 mg/day) with meals, run as a 30-day intensive course. Maintenance is usually one 10 mg capsule twice daily for 10 days, repeated two to three times per year (often quarterly). Some sources describe one or two capsules one or two times daily, and a small number of higher-need protocols double the dose to 20 mg twice daily. These figures come mainly from the developer and suppliers rather than independent trials, so treat them as a reference, not a therapeutic recommendation. The subcutaneous units shown on this page are an educational measurement model only; in real use Zhenoluten is swallowed as a capsule.
Is Zhenoluten FDA approved?expand_more
No. Zhenoluten is not approved by the FDA, the EMA, or any other major regulator as a drug, and there are no independent randomized clinical trials. It originates from the Khavinson peptide-bioregulator program in Russia and is marketed as an oral peptide supplement in some regions and as research material elsewhere. The only efficacy data come from a small, non-blinded manufacturer/institute clinical study report. Nothing on this page is a claim that Zhenoluten is safe or effective for treating menopause, infertility, or any other condition.
How do you reconstitute Zhenoluten?expand_more
In real-world use Zhenoluten is not reconstituted at all - it is taken as 10 mg oral capsules. For the educational subcutaneous model on this site, draw 1.0 mL of bacteriostatic water and inject it slowly down the inner wall of a 20 mg vial, then swirl gently (never shake) until the powder dissolves into a clear solution. This gives 20 mg/mL, so a 10 mg dose is 0.5 mL (50 units) and a 20 mg dose is 1.0 mL (100 units) on a U-100 insulin syringe. Keep the vial refrigerated at 2-8 °C and discard after about 3-4 weeks. This Zhenoluten reconstitution math is a measurement reference only, not a validated route.
What is Zhenoluten's half-life?expand_more
Zhenoluten's half-life has not been formally characterized in published pharmacokinetic studies. As a mixture of small, unmodified peptides it is expected to be broken down rapidly by gastrointestinal and plasma peptidases, giving a free-peptide half-life on the order of minutes. The Khavinson framework attributes any longer-lasting benefit to downstream changes in gene expression that outlast the peptide itself rather than to sustained circulating drug levels, which is why the bioregulators are dosed in short pulsed courses (for example 30 days, then 10-day courses each quarter) rather than continuously.
Can Zhenoluten be stacked with other Khavinson bioregulators?expand_more
In the bioregulator literature, tissue-specific peptides are often described as being combined - for example pairing the ovary peptide Zhenoluten with thymus (Vladonix/Thymalin), vascular (Ventfort), thyroid (Thyreogen), or pineal (Epitalon) preparations in a "female reproductive" or general anti-aging protocol. However, there are no controlled data on the safety, interactions, or added benefit of any such stack, and combining multiple unapproved peptide products multiplies the unknown risks. This is general information, not medical advice; anyone considering these compounds should consult a qualified clinician first.
Related Guides & Tools
Step-by-step references for reconstituting, measuring, and storing Zhenoluten, plus the universal dosing calculator.
Academic References & Study Citations
Clinical Study Report: peptide bioregulator Zhenoluten (ovary peptide complex) - Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, 2011; manufacturer/institute report, not independently peer-reviewed. View Scientific Paper →
Khavinson VK, Popovich IG, Linkova NS, Mironova ES, Ilina AR. Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review. Molecules. 2021;26(22):7053. View Scientific Paper →
Khavinson VKh. Peptides and Ageing. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002;23 Suppl 3:11-144. View Scientific Paper →
Fedoreyeva LI, Kireev II, Khavinson VKh, Vanyushin BF. Penetration of short fluorescence-labeled peptides into the nucleus in HeLa cells and in vitro specific interaction of the peptides with deoxyribooligonucleotides and DNA. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2011;76(11):1210-1219. View Scientific Paper →
Janssens Y, Wynendaele E, Vanden Berghe W, De Spiegeleer B. Peptides as epigenetic modulators: therapeutic implications. Clin Epigenetics. 2019;11(1):101. View Scientific Paper →
Yue X, Liu SL, Guo JN, et al. Epitalon protects against post-ovulatory aging-related damage of mouse oocytes in vitro. Aging (Albany NY). 2022;14(7):3191-3202. View Scientific Paper →
Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh. Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects. Biogerontology. 2010;11(2):139-149. View Scientific Paper →
Korkushko OV, Khavinson VKh, Shatilo VB, Antonyk-Sheglova IA. Peptide geroprotector from the pituitary gland inhibits rapid aging of elderly people: results of 15-year follow-up. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2011;151(3):366-369. View Scientific Paper →