Abstract

 

Aim: In vitro assay of superoxide scavenging capacity of melatonin.

Materials and methods: Scavenging capacity of melatonin for superoxide radicals produced by xanthine-xanthine oxidase system was Investigated by using Fridovich I. method.

Results and discussion: Melatonin exhibited superoxide scavenging activity ¡n a dose-dependent manner up to 45 pg/mL and activity was calculated to be 0.046 ±0.009 SOD equivalent units / pg of melatonin (n=9). A concentration of approximately 18 pg / mL melatonin served as one unit of superoxide dismutase enzyme.

Key words: Melatonin, superoxide scavenging activity, oxidative stress, antioxidant.