Melatonin reduces oxidative/nitrosative stress due to drugs, toxins, metals, and herbicides.
The purpose of this brief review is to introduce the reader to the vast amount of published literature related to the free radical scavenging and antioxidative activity of melatonin. However, this review summarizes only a few of the many conditions in which melatonin has been found to be protective against oxidative/nitrosative damage. Melatonin ameliorates the extensive free radical-mediated damage that ensues following exposure to a wide variety of environmental insults. Concisely reviewed in this report are the protective effects of melatonin against toxic prescription drugs, neural toxins, herbicides and metals. The findings have clear implications for the utility of melatonin in toxicology.
Reiter
Russel J
RJ
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA. reiter@uthscsa.edu
Korkmaz
Ahmet
A
Paredes
Sergio D
SD
Manchester
Lucien C
LC
Tan
Duan-Xian
DX
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000633:toxicity; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000633:toxicity*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000633:toxicity*
D000975:Antioxidants; D006540:Herbicides; D008670:Metals; D009498:Neurotoxins; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008550:Melatonin