Research Area: Endocrinology
Biological Activity:
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland from the amino acid tryptophan. The synthesis and release of melatonin are stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light, suggesting the involvement of melatonin in circadian rhythm and regulation of diverse body functions. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin and finally converted to melatonin which is an Indole. [1]Synthetic melatonin supplements have been used for a variety of medical conditions, most notably for jet-lag and disturbances of sleep. Melatonin possesses antioxidant activity, and many of its proposed therapeutic or preventive uses are based on this property. [2] |