All peptides · Healing & recovery · Longevity & bioregulators

Cartalax

Healing & recoveryLongevity & bioregulators

Russian short-peptide bioregulator

One of the Khavinson "bioregulator" peptides, marketed for cartilage and joint tissue. Evidence comes mainly from Russian cell and animal studies.

Not approved outside Russia's supplement market. Research use only.

Look it up on Wikipedia

47 listings across 39 independently tested vendors, ranked by price per milligram after coupon codes anyone can use. Vendors you can only order from by message are hidden.

Cheapest right now

$0.475 per mg

Andy Peps Studio

LAX20 Cartalax 20mg * 10 vials

$95.00 for 10 × 20 mg = 200 mg

Metascore 79Finnrick 73%Bought vials 102% of label · 42 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout

Go to andypepsstudio.com

Some links here are affiliate links: if you buy through one, this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, rankings and plans are worked out the same way whether or not a vendor pays one.

US compoundingNot compoundable

Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it.

Sources: FDA: 503A categories (updated May 14, 2026) · checked 2026-10-08 · All peptides' status

Price per mg across 38 vendors

$0.475 cheapest$2.52 median$5.80 highest

Vendor lab reports

10 of 39 vendors

publish a readable report for Cartalax; typical vial measures 105% of label. 1 publish none.

Research

D Little or no evidence

8 papers reviewed ✓ 2✗ 1? 5

Daily price tracking started October 7, 2026; a price-history chart appears here once a few days have been collected.

Vendor	Trust	Listing	Vials	Price	Per mg
Andy Peps Studio #64 by metascore · China	Metascore 79Finnrick 73%Bought vials 102% of label · 42 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	LAX20 Cartalax 20mg * 10 vials	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$95.00 $9.50 per vial	$0.475	Buy
Baohua Dongnuo Biotechnology BHD #77 by metascore · China	Metascore 78Finnrick 71%Bought vials 101% of label · 20 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	LAX20 Cartalax 20mg * 10 vials	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$95.00 $9.50 per vial	$0.475	Buy
LN Peptides #254 by metascore · China	Metascore 71Finnrick 72%Bought vials 99% of label · 39 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisOnline checkout	LAX20 Cartalax 20mg * 10 vials	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$95.00 $9.50 per vial	$0.475	Buy
BeiBangAn #28 by metascore · China	Metascore 83Finnrick 68%Bought vials 102% of label · 70 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	LAX20 Cartalax 20mg * 10 vials	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$95.00 $9.50 per vial	$0.475	Buy
Shanghai Wibson Biotechnology WBS #263 by metascore · China	Metascore 70Finnrick 65%Bought vials 99% of label · 58 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg 20mg*10vials (China warehouse) [jinjier]	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$140.00 $14.00 per vial	$0.700	Buy
Uther #62 by metascore · China	Metascore 79Finnrick 64%Bought vials 105% of label · 73 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg (10 Vials / Kit)	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$150.00 $15.00 per vial	$0.750	Buy
Shanghai Wibson Biotechnology WBS #263 by metascore · China	Metascore 70Finnrick 65%Bought vials 99% of label · 58 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg 20mg*10vials (US warehouse 01) [jinjier]	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$150.00 $15.00 per vial	$0.750	Buy
Shanghai Wibson Biotechnology WBS #263 by metascore · China	Metascore 70Finnrick 65%Bought vials 99% of label · 58 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg 20mg*10vials (China warehouse) [wbspeptide.com]	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$185.00 $18.50 per vial	$0.925	Buy
Shanghai Wibson Biotechnology WBS #263 by metascore · China	Metascore 70Finnrick 65%Bought vials 99% of label · 58 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg 20mg*10vials (US warehouse 01) [wbspeptide.com]	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$195.00 $19.50 per vial	$0.975	Buy
Qingdao Sigma Chemical QSC #69 by metascore	Metascore 78Finnrick 64%Bought vials 103% of label · 47 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg \| 20-Vial Kit \| Cartilage & Connective Tissue Bioregulator	20 × 20 mg = 400 mg	$470.00 $23.50 per vial	$1.18	Buy
Qingdao Sigma Chemical QSC #69 by metascore	Metascore 78Finnrick 64%Bought vials 103% of label · 47 testsNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg \| 10-Vial Kit \| Cartilage & Connective Tissue Bioregulator	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$260.00 $26.00 per vial	$1.30	Buy
Eros Peptides #129 by metascore · US, GA 30339	Metascore 74 medium confidenceFinnrick 77%Bought vials 110% of label · 3 testsTitrateLab · Peptide CriticLab report (image)Online checkout	Cartalax 20MG	1 × 20 mg	$29.74	$1.49	Buy
Nexaph #90 by metascore	Metascore 76Finnrick 57%PepIndex 19/100Bought vials 109% of label · 285 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBaseLab 99.7% pure · 111% of labelOnline checkout	Cartalax 10mg (10 vials/kit)	10 × 10 mg = 100 mg	$161.00 $16.10 per vial	$1.61	Buy
Gulf Coast Aminos #17 by metascore	Metascore 85 medium confidenceFinnrick 81%Bought vials 109% of label · 3 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisAccount needed	Cartalax 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$34.95	$1.75	Buy
Peptide Crafters #57 by metascore · US	Metascore 79Finnrick 60%PepIndex 22/100Bought vials 111% of label · 59 testsTitrateLab · Peptide CriticNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 26 of 26Online checkout	Cartalax (30mg)	1 × 30 mg	$55.00	$1.83	Buy
Paramount Peptides #133 by metascore · US CA	Metascore 74Finnrick 64%PepIndex 55/100Bought vials 114% of label · 65 testsTitrateLab · Peptide CriticNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax (25mg)	1 × 25 mg	$55.25	$2.21	Buy
Go Alpha Labs Peptides #51 by metascore · US	Metascore 80Finnrick 52%Bought vials 100% of label · 11 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 37 of 37Online checkout	Cartalax (20mg) (10 Vials)	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$449.99 $45.00 per vial	$2.25	Buy
Skye Peptides #72 by metascore · US: CA	Metascore 78Finnrick 57%Bought vials 114% of label · 92 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 25 of 25Account needed	Cartalax 25 mg	1 × 25 mg	$59.00	$2.36	Buy
Royal Peptides Affiliate #8 by metascore · US	Metascore 86Finnrick 75%Bought vials 107% of label · 34 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 3 of 3Online checkout	Cartalax Bioregulator Kit Cartalax 10% off with code	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	~~$550.00~~ $495.00 10% off with code $49.50 per vial	$2.48 list $2.75	Buy
Alpha BioMed #281 by metascore · US	Metascore 70 low confidenceFinnrick 47%TitrateLabNo report for thisAccount needed	Cartalax (25mg)	1 × 25 mg	$62.00	$2.48	Buy
Bio Pepz #98 by metascore · US	Metascore 76 medium confidenceFinnrick 82%Bought vials 110% of label · 4 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisAccount needed	CARTALAX 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$50.00	$2.50	Buy
Bulk Peptide Wholesale #29 by metascore	Metascore 82 medium confidenceFinnrick 68%Bought vials 103% of label · 7 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBaseNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 10 mg (10 vials)	10 × 10 mg = 100 mg	$250.00 $25.00 per vial	$2.50	Buy
Amino Usa #136 by metascore · US	Metascore 74 medium confidenceFinnrick 32%Bought vials 89% of label · 3 testsTitrateLabLab 99.6% pure · 108% of labelAccount needed	Cartalax 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$50.00	$2.50	Buy
Glacier Aminos Affiliate #73 by metascore	Metascore 78 low confidenceFinnrick 77%TitrateLab · Peptide CriticLab · 101% of labelOnline checkout	CARTALAX 20MG (10-Pack)	10 × 20 mg = 200 mg	$509.92 $50.99 per vial	$2.55	Buy
Modern Aminos Affiliate #125 by metascore · US	Metascore 75 medium confidenceFinnrick 79%PepIndex 81/100Bought vials 100% of label · 5 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide CriticNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20MG $30 off through this site's link (new customers)	1 × 20 mg	$54.00 $30 off through this site's link (new customers)	$2.70	Buy
Lab Rat Peptide #206 by metascore · US	Metascore 72 low confidenceFinnrick 76%TitrateLabNo public reportsOnline checkout	Cartalax 20MG	1 × 20 mg	$55.00	$2.75	Buy
Pura Peptides #81 by metascore	Metascore 77Finnrick 66%Bought vials 107% of label · 20 testsTitrateLab · Peptide CriticNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$55.00	$2.75	Buy
Verified Peptides #120 by metascore · US: FL	Metascore 75Finnrick 65%Bought vials 109% of label · 39 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide Critic · PeptideCheckedNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax Peptide (20MG)	1 × 20 mg	$55.00	$2.75	Buy
Liberty Peptides #63 by metascore · US, DE 19801	Metascore 79Finnrick 53%Bought vials 107% of label · 18 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBaseLab 99.4% pure · 96% of labelOnline checkout	Cartalax (20mg)	1 × 20 mg	$55.00	$2.75	Buy
Ion Peptide #4 by metascore	Metascore 87 medium confidenceFinnrick 82%Bought vials 108% of label · 4 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide CriticLab 99.8% pure · 99% of labelConfirmed with lab: 40 of 40Online checkout	Cartalax – 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$59.25	$2.96	Buy
Glacier Aminos Affiliate #73 by metascore	Metascore 78 low confidenceFinnrick 77%TitrateLab · Peptide CriticLab · 101% of labelOnline checkout	CARTALAX 20MG (5-Pack)	5 × 20 mg = 100 mg	$299.16 $59.83 per vial	$2.99	Buy
Pure Peptide Labs #53 by metascore · US	Metascore 79 medium confidenceFinnrick 63%PepIndex 23/100Bought vials 102% of label · 4 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide CriticLab 99.9% pure · 112% of labelOnline checkout	Cartalax 20 mg	1 × 20 mg	$59.95	$3.00	Buy
Valor peptides Affiliate #65 by metascore	Metascore 79 medium confidenceFinnrick 76%TitrateLab · PeptideBaseNo report for thisAccount needed	Cartalax 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$59.99	$3.00	Buy
EZ Peptides #12 by metascore	Metascore 85Finnrick 75%Bought vials 103% of label · 11 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide CriticNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 21 of 21Account needed	Cartalax 20mg Buy 2, get the 3rd free with code (same item)	1 × 20 mg	$59.99 Buy 2, get the 3rd free with code (same item)	$3.00	Buy
Orbitrex Peptides #1 by metascore · US	Metascore 90Finnrick 71%Bought vials 104% of label · 27 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide CriticLab 99.8% pure · 105% of labelOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$59.99	$3.00	Buy
Go Alpha Labs Peptides #51 by metascore · US	Metascore 80Finnrick 52%Bought vials 100% of label · 11 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 37 of 37Online checkout	Cartalax (20mg)	1 × 20 mg	$59.99	$3.00	Buy
Core Peptides #282 by metascore	Metascore 70 medium confidenceFinnrick 76%PepIndex 24/100Bought vials 92% of label · 4 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide Critic · PeptideCheckedLab 99.5% pureOnline checkout	Cartalax – 20MG	1 × 20 mg	$63.00	$3.15	Buy
Amino Asylum #245 by metascore	Metascore 71Finnrick 62%PepIndex 26/100Bought vials 100% of label · 15 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBaseNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20MG	1 × 20 mg	$64.99	$3.25	Buy
Atomik Labz Affiliate #85 by metascore · US. Florida, 33411	Metascore 77Finnrick 69%Bought vials 112% of label · 44 testsTitrateLab · Peptide CriticNo report for thisOnline checkoutCheck vendor	Cartalax 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$65.00	$3.25	Buy
Peptidology #5 by metascore · US, AZ 85254	Metascore 87Finnrick 71%Bought vials 97% of label · 18 testsTitrateLab · PeptideBase · Peptide Critic · PeptideCheckedNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 34 of 34Online checkout	Cartalax 20 mg (24.26mg)	1 × 20 mg	$65.00	$3.25	Buy
Glacier Aminos Affiliate #73 by metascore	Metascore 78 low confidenceFinnrick 77%TitrateLab · Peptide CriticLab · 101% of labelOnline checkout	CARTALAX 20MG	1 × 20 mg	$67.99	$3.40	Buy
Crush Research Affiliate #91 by metascore · US	Metascore 76Finnrick 51%Bought vials 107% of label · 17 testsTitrateLabLab 99.7% pure · 105% of labelOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg — Single Vial	1 × 20 mg	$69.00	$3.45	Buy
Precision Peptide Co #107 by metascore · US, Tx 76048	Metascore 75Finnrick 68%Bought vials 106% of label · 20 testsTitrateLab · Peptide CriticNo report for thisOnline checkout	Cartalax 20mg	1 × 20 mg	$79.99	$4.00	Buy
Certified Peptides #66 by metascore · US, WA 98579	Metascore 79Finnrick 58%Bought vials 100% of label · 12 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisOnline checkout	CARTALAX 20MG	1 × 20 mg	$105.00	$5.25	Buy
Amplified Amino Affiliate #27 by metascore · US: TX 78248	Metascore 83Finnrick 65%Bought vials 115% of label · 12 testsTitrateLabLab 99.7% pure · 111% of labelOnline checkout	Cartalax 10mg	1 × 10 mg	$58.00	$5.80	Buy
Royal Peptides Affiliate #8 by metascore · US	Metascore 86Finnrick 75%Bought vials 107% of label · 34 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 3 of 3Online checkout	Cartalax Bioregulator Kit Vesugen 10% off with code	10 vials, size not stated	~~$550.00~~ $495.00 10% off with code $49.50 per vial	–	Buy
Tydes #41 by metascore · US: NC	Metascore 80Finnrick 68%Bought vials 117% of label · 44 testsTitrateLab · Peptide CriticNo report for thisConfirmed with lab: 16 of 16Online checkout	Cartalax	1 vial, size not stated	$59.99	–	Buy

Mixing a 20 mg vial

What each common amount of bacteriostatic water gives you on a U-100 insulin syringe. Pick a vial size above to change it.

Water	Strength	Per 10 units (0.1 mL)	Per unit
1 mL	20 mg/mL	2,000 mcg	200 mcg
2 mL	10 mg/mL	1,000 mcg	100 mcg
3 mL	6.667 mg/mL	666.7 mcg	66.67 mcg
5 mL	4 mg/mL	400 mcg	40 mcg

Open the reconstitution calculator

Mixing guides:10 mg 20 mg 25 mg

Published lab results

19 certificates of analysis that vendors publish for Cartalax. Numbers are only filled in where the document is readable text; image-only COAs are linked without numbers. A vendor's own COA shows one tested sample, not every batch.

Vendor	Lab	Date	Label	Measured	Purity	Batch
Licensed Peptides	Vanguard Laboratory	2026-09-25	20 mg	–	–	Vanguard ID V260908-14 008; lot White Cap	View (image)
Shanghai Leader Peptide BiotechnologyCOA concerns 90 of 115 COAs come from 'Qorix Labs'/TJQXGD, a site registered June 2026 that says it only compiles data from an unnamed partner lab and is not accredited: they can't be checked independently. Its Freedom Diagnostics reports are real. Checked 2026-10-08. How we check	Qorix Labs (Tianjin)	2026-09-11	20 mg	–	99.68%	CX20	View
Crush Research	ILS Laboratories	2026-09-06	20 mg	20.93 mg 105%	99.74%	CR-CARTA20-0906	View
Rhome Research	Freedom Diagnostics	2026-09-06	24 mg	24.09 mg 100%	99.88%	CX201	View
NuLife PeptidesCOA note	Freedom Diagnostics	2026-09-01	20 mg	19.8 mg 99%	99.6%	NLCAR20501 (FD #2608280250, client 'Wholesale', 'Cartalax 20mg')	View
Ion Peptide	Freedom Diagnostics ✓ lab	2026-08-24	20 mg	19.7 mg 99%	99.83%	CX20-08142026	View
Orbitrex Peptides	Freedom Diagnostics	2026-08-23	20 mg	21.05 mg 105%	99.75%	LAX20926	View
Glacier Aminos	Ethos Analytics	2026-08-19	20 mg	20.205 mg 101%	–	CLX20GA-03	View
Pure Peptide Labs	Freedom Diagnostics	2026-08-11	20 mg	22.49 mg 112%	99.89%	CX2315	View
Amplified Amino	Janoshik	2026-07-24	10 mg	11.09 mg 111%	99.722%	CART1007032026-02; Janoshik task #207886; key USN8WXLZN54L; mean of 3 vials	View
Nexaph	Janoshik	2026-07-24	10 mg	11.09 mg 111%	99.72%	CART1007032026-02	View
Core Peptides	Vanguard Laboratory	2026-07-22	20 mg	–	99.5%	C73561	View
Amino Usa	BioRegen	2026-07-02	20 mg	21.6 mg 108%	99.56%	26CART20-0003	View
Amplified Amino	Janoshik	2026-06-11	10 mg	11.97 mg 120%	99.886%	CART1005282026-01; Janoshik task #171640; key 2TJACEMBCZJU; mean of 3 vials	View
Liberty Peptides	–	2026-02-18	20 mg	19.25 mg 96%	99.41%	LPUS2059	View
Cocer Peptides	Janoshik	–	20 mg	–	–	CS-cx20-0826	View (image)
Eros PeptidesCOA note	Janoshik	–	20 mg	–	–		View (image)
Jett Labs	Freedom Diagnostics	–	–	–	–		View (image)
Longevity PlanCOA note	–	–	–	–	–		View (image)

Doses studied in research Animal or lab studies only

What was given to people (or animals) in published studies and official labels, each linked to its source. This is not a recommendation: study products, purity and supervision differ from research-grade vials.

Animal studies: Only cell-culture studies (human fibroblasts, kidney cells, stem cells) tested the tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp; their abstracts do not state the concentrations used, and no animal or human dosing study was found.

Not an approved drug, and no study in people has been published. Cell-culture concentrations do not translate to doses in people.

What the research says

Little or no evidence

Why: Only cell-culture studies, nearly all from one St. Petersburg group; no animal or human studies of joint or cartilage outcomes.

Cartalax (the tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp, also coded T-31) has been studied only in a handful of cell-culture experiments, nearly all from a single St. Petersburg research group. Two further cell studies from the same group show AED peptide effects on aged stem cells and chondrocytes (cartilage-related), but no animal or human studies on cartilage or joint health — its marketed use — were found.

Key papers ✓ 2✗ 1? 5

? Inconclusive in vitroBull Exp Biol Med · 2016
Peptide Regulation of Skin Fibroblast Functions during Their Aging In Vitro.
Cells / lab
In vitro immunofluorescent confocal microscopy

In aging human skin fibroblast cultures, AED and related short peptides increased proliferation markers, reduced MMP-9, and AED suppressed caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Study details
Studied
Aging skin fibroblast cultures
Compared with
Peptides KE, KED, AED, AEDG
Main outcome
Ki-67, CD98hc, caspase-3 and MMP-9 expression
Authors' conclusion
All peptides inhibited age-increased MMP-9 and enhanced Ki-67 and CD98hc; AED and AEDG also suppressed caspase-dependent apoptosis.
Limitations
In vitro fibroblast culture study.

DOI 10.1007/s10517-016-3370-x PubMed 27259496
? Inconclusive in vitroAdv Gerontol · 2014
[Tripeptides slow down aging process in renal cell culture].
Cells / lab
In vitro study of tripeptides AED and EDL, with DNA-binding models

In young and aged kidney cell cultures, AED and EDL increased proliferation and lowered aging markers (p16, p21, p53) while raising SIRT-6; DNA-binding mechanism proposed from computer modeling.

Study details
Studied
Ageing renal cell culture
Compared with
Young vs aged cultures
Main outcome
Proliferation and aging markers p16, p21, p53, SIRT-6
Authors' conclusion
Peptides AED and EDL increased proliferation, decreased aging markers and increased SIRT-6; the authors propose DNA interaction as the cause of changed gene expression.
Limitations
In vitro; DNA interactions are computed models.

PubMed 25946838
? Inconclusive in vitroBull Exp Biol Med · 2015
Peptide Regulation of Cells Renewal Processes in Kidney Tissue Cultures from Young and Old Animals.
Animalssize not reported
Tissue culture with calf kidney polypeptide complex and short peptides T-31 (AED), T-35 (EDL)

In rat kidney tissue cultures, T-31 (AED) stimulated proliferation and reduced apoptosis, but less than a calf-kidney polypeptide extract.

Study details
Studied
Organotypic kidney tissue cultures from young and old rats
Compared with
Polypeptide complex vs short peptides
Main outcome
Ki-67 and p53 expression
Authors' conclusion
The polypeptide complex enhanced Ki-67 and reduced p53; short peptides AED and EDL stimulated proliferation and reduced apoptosis, but less than the complex.
Limitations
Ex vivo tissue culture study.

DOI 10.1007/s10517-015-2906-9 PubMed 26033601
? Inconclusive in vitroMol Biol Rep · 2020
Gene expression in human mesenchymal stem cell aging cultures: modulation by short peptides.
Cells / lab
In vitro gene expression study

In human mesenchymal stem cell aging cultures, AED, KED and KE at nanomolar concentrations altered expression of aging-related genes such as IGF1 and NF-kB.

Key resultIGF1 expression enhanced 3.5-5.6 fold by the peptides; KED inhibited FOXO1 by 1.6-2.3 fold

Study details
Studied
Human embryo bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (FetMSCs), aged by passages or stationary culture
Compared with
Peptides AED, KED, KE
Main outcome
Expression of IGF1, FOXO1, TERT, TNKS2, NFκB genes
Authors' conclusion
At nanomolar concentrations the peptides modulate expression of some genes involved in cell aging.
Limitations
In vitro; gene expression only.

DOI 10.1007/s11033-020-05506-3 PubMed 32399807
? Inconclusive in vitroInt J Immunopathol Pharmacol · 2019
Effect of short peptides on neuronal differentiation of stem cells.
Cells / lab
In vitro immunofluorescence and western blot

In human periodontal ligament stem cells, a mix of short peptides including AED promoted neuronal-differentiation markers; AED alone was not reported to have this effect.

Study details
Studied
Human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs)
Compared with
AED, KED, KE, AEDG individually and as a compound
Main outcome
GAP43 and Nestin expression
Authors' conclusion
The peptide compound and KED increased GAP43 and Nestin, suggesting the peptides could promote neuronal differentiation of hPDLSCs.
Limitations
In vitro stem cell study.

DOI 10.1177/2058738419828613 PubMed 30791821 Free full text
✗ Negative in vitroBull Exp Biol Med · 2011
Peptidergic regulation of thymocyte differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis during aging of the thymus.
Cells / lab
In vitro peptide comparison

In aged thymocyte cultures, only peptide AB-9 showed geroprotective effects; T-31 (AED) did not.

Study details
Studied
Old (passage 8) thymocyte culture
Compared with
T-31, AB-17 and AB-9 peptides
Main outcome
Thymocyte differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis
Authors' conclusion
Only AB-9 showed a complex geroprotective effect, stimulating proliferation and differentiation and inhibiting apoptosis; the other peptides did not.
Limitations
In vitro culture study.

DOI 10.1007/s10517-011-1298-8 PubMed 22238759
✓ Positive in vitroAdv Gerontol · 2023
[The influence of peptides on the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells during replicative aging.]
Cells / lab
In vitro cell culture

In human mesenchymal stem cells grown to replicative aging, the AED peptide (200 ng/ml) raised expression and synthesis of cartilage-forming markers (SOX9, aggrecan, type II collagen, COMP), similar to a cartilage polypeptide complex.

Study details
Studied
Human mesenchymal stem cells during replicative aging
Compared with
Cartilage polypeptide complex (CPC)
Main outcome
Gene expression and protein synthesis of chondrogenic differentiation markers
Authors' conclusion
AED peptide stimulated regulation of chondrogenesis in aging stem cells, opening prospects for testing in osteoarthritis models.
Limitations
Cell culture only; no animal or human data.

PubMed 37782646
✓ Positive in vitroAdv Gerontol · 2023
[Peptides prevent the forming of secretory phenotype of chondrocytes associated with the aging.]
Cells / lab
In vitro cell culture

In aged chondrocyte cultures, the AED peptide (like a cartilage polypeptide complex) normalised the senescence-associated secretory markers p16, p21, p53, TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha and Sirt1.

Study details
Studied
Aging chondrocyte cultures
Compared with
Cartilage polypeptide complex (CPC)
Main outcome
Synthesis of senescence-associated secretory phenotype molecules
Authors' conclusion
AED and CPC normalised the molecules that form the chondrocyte secretory phenotype, which may explain a geroprotective effect.
Limitations
Cell culture only; same research group as earlier AED work.

PubMed 37356100

Reported side effects

No human or animal safety data were found in the published literature.

✓ positive · ✗ negative · ~ mixed · ? inconclusive, judged on each paper's own main outcome. Grades: A strong human evidence → D little or none. Papers and verdicts are drawn from PubMed, Europe PMC and Russian journals (CyberLeninka); not medical advice.

Full Cartalax research page

Discussions elsewhere

Experiences and questions about Cartalax on other sites. Treat anecdotes with care.

Search all of Reddit Search r/Biohackers Search r/Nootropics Search r/Peptides All communities

Also sold in blends with Cartalax

BPC-157 + Cartalax + TB-500 (18). The order planner uses these automatically when a blend is cheaper than separate vials.

Cartalax: questions people ask

What is Cartalax?

Russian short-peptide bioregulator. One of the Khavinson "bioregulator" peptides, marketed for cartilage and joint tissue. Evidence comes mainly from Russian cell and animal studies.

How much does Cartalax cost?

The cheapest Cartalax from an independently tested vendor is $0.475 per mg (Andy Peps Studio, LAX20 Cartalax 20mg * 10 vials, $95.00). Across 47 listings from 39 vendors the median is $2.50 per mg.

Where can I buy Cartalax?

39 vendors tested by Finnrick sell Cartalax. The cheapest per mg right now: Andy Peps Studio ($0.475), Baohua Dongnuo Biotechnology BHD ($0.475), LN Peptides ($0.475). 10 of them publish a lab report (COA) for Cartalax; compare lab scores and reports in the table above before buying.

How much bacteriostatic water for 20 mg of Cartalax?

Adding 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to a 20 mg vial of Cartalax gives 10 mg/mL: each 10 units on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 1,000 mcg. With 1 mL it's 20 mg/mL (2,000 mcg per 10 units); with 3 mL, 6.667 mg/mL (666.7 mcg per 10 units). More water makes small amounts easier to measure. Mixing charts: 10 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg.

Is Cartalax FDA approved?

Not approved outside Russia's supplement market. Research use only.

Can Cartalax be compounded in the US?

Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it. Compounding status for every peptide.

Does Cartalax work? What does the research say?

Evidence grade D (little or no evidence), from 8 papers: Only cell-culture studies, nearly all from one St. Petersburg group; no animal or human studies of joint or cartilage outcomes. Cartalax (the tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp, also coded T-31) has been studied only in a handful of cell-culture experiments, nearly all from a single St. Petersburg research group. Two further cell studies from the same group show AED peptide effects on aged stem cells and chondrocytes (cartilage-related), but no animal or human studies on cartilage or joint health — its marketed use — were found. See the papers.

What dose of Cartalax was used in studies?

Cartalax is tested only in animals or cells. Only cell-culture studies (human fibroblasts, kidney cells, stem cells) tested the tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp; their abstracts do not state the concentrations used, and no animal or human dosing study was found. These are amounts used in published studies or official labels, not a recommendation.

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