Melatonin

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton and Vidya Acharya  

Introduction

Melatonin, mostly released by the pineal gland, is a circadian rhythm-regulated and multifunctional hormone. Great advances in melatonin research have been made, including its role in rhythms of the sleep-wake cycle, retardation of ageing processes, as well as antioxidant or anti-inflammatory functions.

Endogenous melatonin is a hormone produced naturally, synthesized, and secreted primarily in the pineal gland. Melatonin is released from the pineal gland into the third ventricle and from there into circulation.

Roles of melatonin include:

1. Melatonin is involved in regulating the body's sleep-wake cycles.
2. Melatonin is very effective in reducing oxidative stress under a large number of situations. It achieves this action via a variety of means: direct detoxification of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species and indirectly by stimulating antioxidant enzymes while suppressing the activity of pro-oxidant enzymes.
3. Melatonin can scavenge free radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), a key factor in reproductive functions. Melatonin plays an important role in oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryonic development as well.

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