Melatonin: An antioxidant in edible plants

Russel J. Reiter, D. X. Tan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

138 Scopus citations

Abstract

Melatonin, a molecule with antioxidant properties that is widely distributed in the animal kingdom, has now been shown to exist in the plant kingdom, including edible plants. Our findings show that melatonin is not only an endogenously produced antioxidant, but that it is also consumed in the diet. Since melatonin concentrations in the blood correlate with the total antioxidant status of this fluid, it is likely that dietary melatonin could be important in protecting against oxidative damage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)341-344
Number of pages4
JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume957
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Antioxidant
  • Edible plants
  • Free radicals
  • Melatonin
  • Oxidative damage

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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