TY - JOUR
T1 - Melatonin, active oxygen species and neurological damage
AU - Reiter, R. J.
PY - 1998/8/11
Y1 - 1998/8/11
N2 - Recently described actions of melatonin and other antioxidants are currently of great interest in the clinical arena. The overall phenomenon by which oxygen destroys molecular integrity is referred to as oxidative stress, and the damage inflicted has been linked to a variety of diseases and to aging. In addition to its direct free radical-detoxifying activity, melatonin also functions as an indirect antioxidant by changing the activity of enzymes that metabolize active oxygen species to inactive products. Besides inhibiting the prooxidative enzyme NOS, melatonin-at least when given at pharmacological levels-stimulates the activity of several antioxidative enzymes. Melatonin was also recently shown to prevent membrane fluidity changes associated with lipid peroxidation. Melatonin has been shown to protect against a large number of models of neurodegeneration in animals that involve free radical damage; however, clinical studies using this molecule have yet to be performed. Considering the apparent virtual absence of either acute or chronic toxicity of melatonin, its use in humans to avert free radical damage should be considered.
AB - Recently described actions of melatonin and other antioxidants are currently of great interest in the clinical arena. The overall phenomenon by which oxygen destroys molecular integrity is referred to as oxidative stress, and the damage inflicted has been linked to a variety of diseases and to aging. In addition to its direct free radical-detoxifying activity, melatonin also functions as an indirect antioxidant by changing the activity of enzymes that metabolize active oxygen species to inactive products. Besides inhibiting the prooxidative enzyme NOS, melatonin-at least when given at pharmacological levels-stimulates the activity of several antioxidative enzymes. Melatonin was also recently shown to prevent membrane fluidity changes associated with lipid peroxidation. Melatonin has been shown to protect against a large number of models of neurodegeneration in animals that involve free radical damage; however, clinical studies using this molecule have yet to be performed. Considering the apparent virtual absence of either acute or chronic toxicity of melatonin, its use in humans to avert free radical damage should be considered.
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U2 - 10.1358/dnp.1998.11.5.863675
DO - 10.1358/dnp.1998.11.5.863675
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15616649
AN - SCOPUS:0031872081
VL - 11
SP - 291
EP - 296
JO - Drug News and Perspectives
JF - Drug News and Perspectives
SN - 0214-0934
IS - 5
ER -