Melatonin

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxyindolamine) is a derivative of tryptophan, an essential amino acid for mammals. For years, it is has been considered as an exclusive pineal secretion. However, recent findings indicated that melatonin is also synthesize and occurs in wide variety tissues including retina, Harderian glands, gut, bone marrow and lens. Moreover, melatonin is also reported in many plant species, alga, bacteria and fungi. Although melatonin posses a versatile physiological function, its antioxidant function has attracted much attention. Melatonin scavenges a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species including hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite anion.

Enzymatic and nonenzymatic pathways of melatonin metabolism with the resulting metabolites

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