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Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice pp 17–26Cite as

Melatonin’s Antioxidant Properties: Molecular Mechanisms

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Abstract

Melatonin acts as an antioxidant in various ways. Direct scavenging of free radicals requires elevated concentrations, which are present in some high-melatonin organisms and in melatonin-synthesizing organs and used in experimental systems designed for antagonizing oxidotoxicity. Upregulation of antioxidant enzymes occurs at physiological concentrations but is tissue and species specific. Moreover, melatonin prevents excessive radical generation by antiexcitatory and anti-inflammatory actions; by supporting mitochondrial electron flux, thereby reducing electron leakage; and, presumably, by optimizing phase relationships within the circadian multioscillator system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Berliner Str. 28, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, D-37073, Germany

    Rüdiger Hardeland Dr. rer. nat.

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  1. Rüdiger Hardeland Dr. rer. nat.
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Correspondence to Rüdiger Hardeland Dr. rer. nat. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sri Sathya Sai Medical Educational and Research Foundation, An International Medical Sciences Research Center, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    V. Srinivasan

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew-University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Amnon Brzezinski

  3. Department of Physiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Sukru Oter

  4. Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA

    Samuel D. Shillcutt

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Hardeland, R. (2014). Melatonin’s Antioxidant Properties: Molecular Mechanisms. In: Srinivasan, V., Brzezinski, A., Oter, S., Shillcutt, S. (eds) Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0825-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0825-9_2

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