The antioxidative property of melatonin against brain ischemia.
This review briefly summarizes some of the large amount of data documenting the ability of melatonin to limit molecular and organ tissue damage in neural ischemia-reperfusion injury (stroke), where free radicals are generally considered as being responsible for much of the resulting tissue destruction.



Melatonin actions that have been identified include its ability to directly neutralize a number of toxic reactants and stimulate antioxidative enzymes. Furthermore, several of its metabolites such as N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5- methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N(1)-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMF), are themselves scavengers suggesting that there is a cascade of reactions that greatly increase the efficacy of melatonin. Expert Commentary: However, the mechanisms by which melatonin is protective in such widely diverse areas of the cell and different organs are likely not yet all identified.
a Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
Irene
I
Paterniti
a Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
Marika
M
Cordaro
a Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
Emanuela
E
Esposito
a Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.|b Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science , Saint Louis University School of Medicine , St. Louis , MO , USA.
Salvatore
S
Cuzzocrea
D000975:Antioxidants; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D007735:Kynuramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008550:Melatonin
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D007735:Kynuramine; C032131:N-acetyl-5-methoxy kynurenamine; D008550:Melatonin
Melatonin; antioxidant; free radicals; ischemia-reperfusion injury; oxidative stress