Melatonin treatment improves the antioxidant status and decreases lipid content in brain and liver of rats.
This study examines the effect of a daily administration of melatonin for 45 days at two doses (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg body wt.) on antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation and lipid profile in the brain and liver in rats. Both doses of melatonin caused a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and the levels of cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides and free fatty acids in the examined tissues. Concomitantly, the treatment with melatonin augmented the activity of the brain and liver antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase as well as increased glutathione levels. These results offer a support to the hypothesis that melatonin in pharmacological amounts effectively reduces oxidative stress and acts as an antihyperlipidemic agent.
Subramanian
Perumal
P
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
Mirunalini
Shankaran
S
Pandi-Perumal
Seithikurippu R
SR
Trakht
Ilya
I
Cardinali
D P
DP
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010743:Phospholipids; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D008550:Melatonin