Livagen

Livagen is a short synthetic tetrapeptide, Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala (KEDA), from the Khavinson "bioregulator" literature. It is studied mainly as a liver-associated peptide, with most indexed work in Russian and centered on chromatin effects, liver morphology, and broader organ bioregulation rather than modern large clinical trials.

The main mechanistic theme is epigenetic or chromatin-regulatory activity. In cell studies, Livagen promoted chromatin deheterochromatinization in lymphocytes, and in elderly subjects related peptide-bioregulator studies reported reactivation of chromatin organization markers in lymphocytes. In organotypic liver culture, Livagen was reported to improve functional-morphologic features, and later reviews describe hepatoprotective and immunoprotective potential. Livagen also inhibited enkephalin-degrading enzymes in human serum and appears relatively resistant to intestinal peptide hydrolases, which may help explain interest in oral formulations.