melatonin

Also known as MLT, N-[2-(5-methoxyindol-3-yl)ethyl]acetamide, 5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine, Melovine, {N-[2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-} Acetamide, N-(2-(5-Methoxyindol-3-yl)ethyl)-Acetamide, N-Acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine, N-[2-(5-Methoxyindol-3-yl)ethyl]-Acetamide

Melatonin, an indoleamine, is a natural compound produced by various organisms, including bacteria and eukaryotes. Its discovery in 1958 by Aaron B. Lerner and colleagues stemmed from the isolation of a substance from the pineal gland of cows that could induce skin lightening in common frogs. This compound was later identified as a hormone secreted in the brain during the night, playing a crucial role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm, in vertebrates.

AI overview

Melatonin is a natural compound produced by your brain (and other organisms) that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle by being released at night. Scientists discovered it in 1958 and found that it plays a crucial role in controlling your body's circadian rhythm, the internal clock that tells you when to sleep and when to wake.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Chemical data

Formula: C13H16N2O2
Molecular weight: 232.28 g/mol
IUPAC name: N-[2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]acetamide
SMILES: CC(=O)NCCC1=CNC2=C1C=C(C=C2)OC
InChIKey: DRLFMBDRBRZALE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP: 0.8
Polar surface area: 54.1 Å²
H-bond donors: 2
H-bond acceptors: 2
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

Research

37,218 papers

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass: 232.121

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Commons category: Melatonin
chemical formula: C₁₃H₁₆N₂O₂
canonical SMILES: CC(=O)NCCC1=CNC2=C1C=C(C=C2)OC
isomeric SMILES: C/C(=N\CCC1=CNC2=C1C=C(C=C2)OC)/O
defined daily dose: 2.0
WordLift URL: data.medicalrecords.com/medicalrecords/healthwise/melatonin

Sources (11)

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Article

29 sections

Contents

Biological activity
Biological functions
Circadian rhythm
Immune system
Weight regulation
Biochemistry
Biosynthesis
Mechanism
Regulation
Metabolism
Measurement
Use as a medication and supplement
Insomnia
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
REM sleep behavior disorder
Dementia
Available forms
History
Discovery
Etymology
Occurrence
Animals and Humans
Plants
Fungi
Bacteria
Archaea
Food products
References
External links

In vertebrates, melatonin's functions extend to synchronizing sleep-wake cycles, encompassing sleep-wake timing and blood pressure regulation, as well as controlling seasonal rhythmicity (circannual cycle), which includes reproduction, fattening, molting, and hibernation. Its effects are mediated through the activation of melatonin receptors and its role as an antioxidant. In plants and bacteria, it serves as a defense mechanism against oxidative stress, indicating its evolutionary significance. Mitochondria, key organelles, are the main producers of melatonin, underscoring its "ancient origins" and its fundamental role in protecting the earliest cells from reactive oxygen species.