Melatonin is a scavenger of peroxynitrite

Eli Gilad, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Basilia Zingarelli, Andrew L. Salzman, Csaba Szabó

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    178 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Peroxynitrite is a toxic oxidant formed from the reaction of superoxide and nitric oxide under conditions of inflammation and oxidant stress. Here we demonstrate that the pineal neurohormone melatonin inhibits peroxynitrite-mediated oxidant processes. Melatonin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 to rhodamine in vitro. Moreover, in cultured J774 macrophages, melatonin inhibited the development of DNA single strand breakage in response to peroxynitrite and reduced the suppression of mitochondrial respiration. Thus, melatonin appears to be a scavenger of peroxynitrite. This action may contribute to the antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects of melatonin in various pathophysiological conditions.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)PL169-PL174
    JournalLife Sciences
    Volume60
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jan 31 1997

    Keywords

    • Free radicals
    • Melatonin
    • Nitric oxide
    • Pineal
    • Shock

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
    • Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Melatonin is a scavenger of peroxynitrite'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this