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Oxidative damage to nuclear DNA: amelioration by melatonin
by Russel J. Reiter
Key
words:
melatonin, pineal gland, antioxidant
Abstract
The
indoleamine melatonin, a product of tryptophan metabolism in
the pineal gland, is a free radical scavenger and antioxidant.
This brief review summarizes melatonin’s ability to protect
nuclear DNA from oxidative damage. Using a variety of different
cytogenetic, biochemical and molecular biological methods, a
number of investigators have demonstrated melatonin’s ability
to protect DNA from the physical agent ionizing radiation, the
herbicide paraquat, the carcinogen safrole, the excitotoxin
kainic acid, the heavy metal chromium (VI), and a wide number
of mutagens. Since these agents damage DNA because they generate
free radicals, the observations are consistent with melatonin
being a radical scavenger and antioxidant.
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Copyright © Neuroendocrinology Letters 1999
All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or ortherwise, without prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief. |
