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Protective effects of melatonin in reducing oxidative stress and in preserving the fluidity of biological membranes: a review
Author(s) -
García Joaquín J.,
LópezPingarrón Laura,
AlmeidaSouza Priscilla,
Tres Alejandro,
Escudero Pilar,
GarcíaGil Francisco A.,
Tan DunXian,
Reiter Russel J.,
Ramírez Jose M.,
BernalPérez Milagros
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/jpi.12128
Subject(s) - melatonin , antioxidant , membrane fluidity , lipid peroxidation , biochemistry , chemistry , oxidative stress , reactive oxygen species , biological membrane , glutathione , free radical theory of aging , glutathione reductase , membrane , glutathione peroxidase , biology , enzyme , superoxide dismutase , endocrinology
Free radicals generated within subcellular compartments damage macromolecules which lead to severe structural changes and functional alterations of cellular organelles. A manifestation of free radical injury to biological membranes is the process of lipid peroxidation, an autooxidative chain reaction in which polyunsaturated fatty acids in the membrane are the substrate. There is considerable evidence that damage to polyunsaturated fatty acids tends to reduce membrane fluidity. However, adequate levels of fluidity are essential for the proper functioning of biological membranes. Thus, there is considerable interest in antioxidant molecules which are able to stabilize membranes because of their protective effects against lipid peroxidation. Melatonin is an indoleamine that modulates a wide variety of endocrine, neural and immune functions. Over the last two decades, intensive research has proven this molecule, as well as its metabolites, to possess substantial antioxidant activity. In addition to their ability to scavenge several reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, melatonin increases the activity of the glutathione redox enzymes, that is, glutathione peroxidase and reductase, as well as other antioxidant enzymes. These beneficial effects of melatonin are more significant because of its small molecular size and its amphipathic behaviour, which facilitates ease of melatonin penetration into every subcellular compartment. In the present work, we review the current information related to the beneficial effects of melatonin in maintaining the fluidity of biological membranes against free radical attack, and further, we discuss its implications for ageing and disease.