TY - JOUR
T1 - Melatonin
T2 - A hormone, a tissue factor, an autocoid, a paracoid, and an antioxidant vitamin
AU - Tan, Dun Xian
AU - Manchester, Lucien C.
AU - Hardeland, Rüdiger
AU - Lopez-Burillo, Silvia
AU - Mayo, Juan C.
AU - Sainz, Rosa M.
AU - Reiter, Russel J.
PY - 2003/1
Y1 - 2003/1
N2 - Melatonin, a derivative of an essential amino acid, tryptophan, was first identified in bovine pineal tissue and subsequently it has been portrayed exclusively as a hormone. Recently accumulated evidence has challenged this concept. Melatonin is present in the earliest life forms and is found in all organisms including bacteria, algae, fungi, plants, insects, and vertebrates including humans. Several characteristics of melatonin distinguish it from a classic hormone such as its direct, non-receptor-mediated free radical scavenging activity. As melatonin is also ingested in foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruits, rice, wheat and herbal medicines, from the nutritional point of view, melatonin can also be classified as a vitamin. It seems likely that melatonin initially evolved as an antioxidant, becoming a vitamin in the food chain, and in multicellular organisms, where it is produced, it has acquired autocoid, paracoid and hormonal properties.
AB - Melatonin, a derivative of an essential amino acid, tryptophan, was first identified in bovine pineal tissue and subsequently it has been portrayed exclusively as a hormone. Recently accumulated evidence has challenged this concept. Melatonin is present in the earliest life forms and is found in all organisms including bacteria, algae, fungi, plants, insects, and vertebrates including humans. Several characteristics of melatonin distinguish it from a classic hormone such as its direct, non-receptor-mediated free radical scavenging activity. As melatonin is also ingested in foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruits, rice, wheat and herbal medicines, from the nutritional point of view, melatonin can also be classified as a vitamin. It seems likely that melatonin initially evolved as an antioxidant, becoming a vitamin in the food chain, and in multicellular organisms, where it is produced, it has acquired autocoid, paracoid and hormonal properties.
KW - Antioxidant
KW - Diet
KW - Free radical
KW - Hormone melatonin
KW - Plant
KW - Vitamin
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U2 - 10.1034/j.1600-079X.2003.02111.x
DO - 10.1034/j.1600-079X.2003.02111.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 12485375
AN - SCOPUS:0037246752
VL - 34
SP - 75
EP - 78
JO - Journal of Pineal Research
JF - Journal of Pineal Research
SN - 0742-3098
IS - 1
ER -