Table 1.
Experimental evidence that melatonin reduces oxidative stress and related events in cells, animals, and humans. Listed here are representative publications where melatonin was used to diminish oxidative damage and/or associated physiological/molecular changes following exposure to a variety of different chemical toxins/processes that normally lead to oxidative mutilation of critical molecules, cellular apoptosis, and compromised organ function. As mentioned, these are representative reports; there are many more. If the reader has a specific interest in a toxin/melatonin interaction, it (they) could be easily found in an appropriate literature search. Also, for many of the subjects listed, there are numerous publications documenting the protective function of melatonin, e.g., in ischemia/reperfusion injury, heavy metal toxicity, etc. The reports are in chronological order.
| Toxin/Process | Tissue Protected | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon tetrachloride | Liver | [69] |
| Hyperbaric oxygen | Lung and brain | [70] |
| 2-Nitropropane | Lipid and DNA | [71] |
| Cerulein | Pancreas | [72] |
| Quinolinic acid | Brain | [73] |
| δ-Aminolevulinic acid | Lipid and DNA | [74] |
| Neonatal asphyxia (human) | Lipid | [75] |
| Ochratoxin A | Liver and kidney | [76] |
| Ultraviolet radiation | Leucocytes | [77] |
| Respiratory distress syndrome (human) | Lung | [78] |
| 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro pyridine | Brain | [79] |
| Organ transplantation | Liver | [80] |
| Diquat | Lipid | [81] |
| Cerebral hypoperfusion | Brain | [82] |
| Aspirin (human) | Gastrointestinal tract | [83] |
| Opisthorchis viverrini (liver fluke) | Liver | [84] |
| Methamphetamine | Brain | [85] |
| Doxorubicin | Heart | [86] |
| Cobra toxin | Multiple tissues | [87] |
| Strenuous exercise | Skeletal muscle | [88] |
| Ionizing radiation | Oral mucosa | [89] |
| Ischemia/reperfusion | Heart | [90] |
| Cadmium | Brain | [91] |
| Phosphine | Heart | [92] |
| Neonatal sepsis (human) | Neonate | [93] |
| ST-segment elevation, myocardial infarction (human) | Heart | [94] |
| Ischemia/reperfusion | Brain | [95] |
| p-Cresol | Mesenchymal stem cells | [96] |
| Arsenic trioxide | Liver | [97] |
| Type 2 diabetes | Cardiovascular system | [98] |
| Hexavalent chromium | Spermatogonia | [99] |
| Ischemia/reperfusion | Lung | [100] |