title: The chemistry of melatonin's interaction with reactive species.
abstract: Melatonin has been shown to be an effective antioxidant in a number of experimental models both in vitro and in vivo. Considering the data available, it is now clear that the indoleamine is involved in antioxidative mechanisms more complex than originally envisaged. These range from the direct radical scavenging of a variety of radicals and reactive species to the control and/or modulation of a number of processes which may trigger a redox imbalance between antioxidant and prooxidant species. This review focuses on the direct radical scavenging activity of melatonin and provides a summary of the mechanisms of the reactions between the indoleamine and reactive species in pure chemical solutions. These actions likely account for at least some of the protective actions of melatonin under conditions of high oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical, Toxicological and Biological Chemistry, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: D-X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tesoriere
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Livrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D008550:Melatonin