Melatonin
Melatonin is an endogenous hormone involved in circadian rhythms. Melatonin activates melatonin (MT) receptors and decreases expression of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and leptin; it exhibits sedative, antioxidative, immunostimulatory, anti-ulcerative, neuroprotective, neuromodulatory, anti-obesity, anticancer, and chemopreventive activities. Melatonin production is increased at night, inducing sleepiness. This compound increases levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase and decreases levels of iNOS and lipoxygenase; it also scavenges ROS. In various models, melatonin increases release of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12. In animal models of obesity, melatonin also decreases body weight, adiposity, leptin levels, and insulin levels. In animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, this compound prevents hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and fibrillogenesis of amyloid-β (Aβ). Melatonin also shows some benefit in the treatment of migraines and cancer as well as the prevention of carcinogenesis. Additionally melatonin may treat gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
References PubMed ID：:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18943339
| Cas No. |
73-31-4 |
|---|---|
| Purity |
≥98% |
| Formula |
C13H16N2O2 |
| Formula Wt. |
232.27 |
| Chemical Name |
N-[2-(5-Methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]acetamide |
| IUPAC Name |
N-[2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]acetamide |
| Synonym |
Regulin; N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine |
| Melting Point |
116-118°C |
| Solubility |
Soluble in DMSO. Insoluble in water. |
| Appearance |
White or Almost White Crystalline Powder |
Kandil TS, Mousa AA, El-Gendy AA, et al. The potential therapeutic effect of melatonin in Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease. BMC Gastroenterol. 2010 Jan 18;10:7. PMID: 20082715.
Anisimov VN, Popovich IG, Zabezhinski MA, et al. Melatonin as antioxidant, geroprotector and anticarcinogen. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 May-Jun;1757(5-6):573-89. PMID: 16678784.
Mills E, Wu P, Seely D, et al. Melatonin in the treatment of cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis. J Pineal Res. 2005 Nov;39(4):360-6. PMID: 16207291.
Hardeland R. Antioxidative protection by melatonin: multiplicity of mechanisms from radical detoxification to radical avoidance. Endocrine. 2005 Jul;27(2):119-30. PMID: 16217125.
Wang XC, Zhang J, Yu X, et al. Prevention of isoproterenol-induced tau hyperphosphorylation by melatonin in the rat. Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2005 Feb 25;57(1):7-12. PMID: 15719129.
Gagnier JJ. The therapeutic potential of melatonin in migraines and other headache types. Altern Med Rev. 2001 Aug;6(4):383-9. PMID: 11578254.
Maestroni GJ. The immunotherapeutic potential of melatonin. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2001 Mar;10(3):467-76. PMID: 11227046.
Wolden-Hanson T, Mitton DR, McCants RL, et al. Daily melatonin administration to middle-aged male rats suppresses body weight, intraabdominal adiposity, and plasma leptin and insulin independent of food intake and total body fat. Endocrinology. 2000 Feb;141(2):487-97. PMID: 10650927.
Pappolla M, Bozner P, Soto C, et al. Inhibition of Alzheimer beta-fibrillogenesis by melatonin. J Biol Chem. 1998 Mar 27;273(13):7185-8. PMID: 9516407.
