title: [Is melatonin an antioxidant?].
abstract: The ever increasing understanding of oxygen radical-linked diseases, including the biological process of aging, has stimulated general interest in modulating these biological events. Among the many natural compounds recognized to exert protection against oxidative stress, melatonin was reported to have antioxidant properties in addition to its known hormonal activities. The present contribution critically reviews the published biochemical data on the antioxidant properties of melatonin. Furthermore, the suggested retardation effect of melatonin on senescence, which is based on the "free radical theory of aging", is also critically evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Osterreich.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nohl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Staniek
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants; D006801:Humans; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D010545:Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010545:Peroxides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C049375:perhydroxyl radical; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D008550:Melatonin