Mitochondrial and longevity

This category gathers compounds studied for cellular energy metabolism and age-related decline. Elamipretide (SS-31) received FDA accelerated approval in 2025 for Barth syndrome, a rare mitochondrial disease. For most of the rest, the evidence comes from animal studies of ageing, which do not reliably predict effects in people.

10 compounds, strongest evidence first

Cardiolipin-targeting tetrapeptide SS-31 SS-31, now the approved drug elamipretide, is a four-residue peptide that binds cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Approved medicine
Antioxidant tripeptide Glutathione Glutathione is the main intracellular antioxidant, a tripeptide made by nearly every cell. Human RCTs
Coenzyme NAD+ NAD+ is a coenzyme present in every living cell, essential for energy metabolism and for enzymes such as sirtuins and PARPs. Early human data
AMPK activator AICAR AICAR is a nucleoside that cells convert into an AMP mimic, activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the cell’s energy sensor. Animal studies
Short peptide bioregulator Epitalon Epitalon is a four-amino-acid peptide developed by Vladimir Khavinson’s group as a synthetic version of a pineal gland extract. Animal studies
Senolytic D-retro-inverso peptide FOXO4-DRI FOXO4-DRI is a modified peptide designed to disrupt the interaction between FOXO4 and p53 in senescent cells, pushing those cells into apoptosis. Animal studies
Mitochondrial-derived peptide Humanin Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide discovered in 2001 in a screen for factors that protect neurons from Alzheimer’s-related cell death. Animal studies
Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA, discovered in 2015. Animal studies
Multi-peptide blend MOTS-c + Humanin blend This blend combines two mitochondrial-derived peptides. Animal studies
Small-molecule ERR agonist SLU-PP-332 SLU-PP-332 is a synthetic agonist of the estrogen-related receptors (ERRα, β and γ) developed at Saint Louis University. Animal studies