Melatonin

What is Melatonin?

Known formally as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, melatonin constitutes a naturally occurring indoleamine synthesized by the pineal gland. This compound fulfills several fundamental biological roles: orchestrating the body's internal clock (circadian rhythms), managing responses to seasonal variations, and protecting cells from oxidative damage through antioxidant activity. For research and scientific study, melatonin provides a valuable tool for examining how sleep is regulated at the molecular level, understanding cellular survival mechanisms, and investigating hormonal regulation. This compound is approved for research, laboratory, and analytical investigation only.

How Melatonin is Made and What It Does

Beginning with tryptophan, an amino acid obtained through diet, the body converts melatonin through a chain of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, with serotonin playing an important intermediate role. The production of melatonin closely follows daily lighting conditions—it increases as daylight fades and peaks during sleep hours. As a messaging molecule, melatonin coordinates numerous vital processes including time-keeping functions, protection of mitochondrial structures (the cell's powerhouses), restoration of chemical balance within cells, and support of immune defenses.

Beyond these roles, melatonin acts as a direct scavenger of damaging molecular species known as free radicals. It simultaneously strengthens the body's natural defenses by boosting the production of protective enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Scientific exploration has further revealed melatonin's involvement in sexual hormone regulation, shielding nerve cells from damage, and slowing the cellular changes associated with aging.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Molecular Formula: C13H16N2O2 Molecular Weight: 232.28 Da Measured Mass (Batch # 2025027): 232.3 Da Purity (HPLC, LCMS-confirmed): 99.17% Physical State: Crystalline powder Testing Method: Reverse-phase HPLC (UV 280 nm) and LCMS (ESI+ mode), validated against reference standards Visual Description: White to faintly off-white crystalline powder

Major Research Applications

Sleep and Biological Clock Regulation Melatonin works by binding to specific protein receptors (MT₁ and MT₂) located in a brain region called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which acts like the body's master clock. Experiments demonstrate that melatonin can adjust when the body's internal clock operates, making it extremely valuable for studying sleep disorders and the biological mechanisms that govern when we sleep and wake.

Cellular Protection Through Antioxidation Research confirms that melatonin destroys harmful free radicals in two ways: directly by neutralizing them and indirectly by activating the body's own protective enzyme systems. This dual action against cellular damage makes melatonin a prime focus for understanding how cells age and how to preserve mitochondrial health.

Hormone and Immune System Regulation Studies have demonstrated melatonin's ability to influence endocrine function and immune responses. Melatonin helps regulate the balance of immune signaling molecules, reduces excessive inflammation, and maintains proper function of the brain-pituitary-hormone axis that controls many body processes.

Protecting Cells from Aging Research into how melatonin prevents cellular aging reveals its capacity to maintain the integrity of mitochondria, sustain proper electrical gradients across cell membranes, and prevent DNA damage accumulated during aging. Through both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, melatonin serves as a key molecule in understanding how to slow cellular aging and extend healthy lifespan.

Research Leadership and Documentation

Dr. Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D., a professor of cellular biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, compiled and organized this comprehensive scientific review.

As a world-recognized melatonin researcher, Dr. Reiter has pioneered investigations revealing melatonin's critical involvement in sleep-wake cycles, mitochondrial function, neutralizing oxidative damage, and regulating age-related changes. Through decades of dedicated research, he has fundamentally expanded scientific understanding of melatonin as both a hormonal messenger and a powerful cell protector.

Major Contributors to Melatonin Science

Doctors Russel J. Reiter and Dun-Xian Tan, along with their research colleagues, have played a central role in understanding melatonin's complex biological functions.

Together, these researchers have revealed how melatonin operates—from binding to cell surface receptors through to chemical processes that reduce cellular damage and defend mitochondria. Their ongoing investigations have greatly advanced knowledge in circadian biology, how cells produce energy, and biological defense systems, establishing melatonin as a cornerstone molecule for both basic research and potential therapeutic applications.

Citations and References

Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Galano A. "Melatonin: exceeding expectations." Physiology (Bethesda). 2014;29(5):325-333. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25180259/

Hardeland R, Cardinali DP, Srinivasan V, et al. "Melatonin-a pleiotropic, orchestrating regulator molecule." Prog Neurobiol. 2011;93(3):350-384. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21193011/

Acuña-Castroviejo D, Escames G, Venegas C, et al. "Melatonin in the regulation of cellular energy metabolism: mitochondrial protection." Int J Mol Sci. 2014;15(4):6908-6938. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24752558/

Arendt J, Skene DJ. "Melatonin as a chronobiotic." Sleep Med Rev. 2005;9(1):25-39. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15649736/

Pandi-Perumal SR, Srinivasan V, Maestroni GJM, et al. "Melatonin: Nature's most versatile biological signal." FEBS J. 2006;273(13):2813-2838. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16817850/

Cardinali DP, Pevet P. "Basic aspects of melatonin action." Sleep Med Rev. 1998;2(3):175-190. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15310406/

Claustrat B, Leston J. "Melatonin: physiological effects in humans." Neurochirurgie. 2015;61(2-3):77-84. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25818301/

Tan DX, Manchester LC, Terron MP, et al. "Melatonin as a natural antioxidant: from molecular mechanisms to clinical significance." Brain Res Bull. 2007;73(1-3):203-213. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17499606/

Reiter RJ, Rosales-Corral S, Tan DX, et al. "Melatonin as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant: one molecule, multiple actions." Cell Mol Life Sci. 2017;74(21):3863-3881. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28567501/

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "Melatonin compound summary," https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Melatonin