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Research: KADOMA and FUJISAWA,
Listed in Issue 211
Abstract
KADOMA and FUJISAWA, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Kanda-surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan evaluated the radical-scavenging activity of melatonin in an attempt to help to explain its anticancer activity in biological systems.
Background
Melatonin shows antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity but its mechanism of action remains unknown.
Methodology
The radical-scavenging activity of melatonin and various melatonin/co-antioxidant mixtures in a 1:1 molar ratio was evaluated in terms of the length of the induction period (IP) for polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), initiated by thermal decomposition of 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) or by benzoyl peroxide (BPO) under nearly anaerobic conditions, which was monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
Results
The observed IP (A) for a pinoline, L-ascorbyl 2,6-dibutyrate (ASDB), vitamin E (alpha-, beta-, gamma- or delta-T) or 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) mixture was compared with the calculated total sum of IP (melatonin+each co-antioxidant) (B). For both the AIBN and BPO systems, the A/B for the melatonin/ASDB, beta-T, gamma-T or delta-T mixture was 0.3-0.7, whereas that for the melatonin/2ME mixture was approximately 1. For the AIBN system, the A/B for the melatonin/alpha-T or pinoline mixture was 0.7-0.8. By contrast, for the BPO system, that for the melatonin/alpha-T or pinoline mixture was approximately 1.
Conclusion
The pro-oxidant effect of the melatonin/ascorbate or vitamin E mixtures induced by radical-oxidizing activity may help to explain the anticancer activity of melatonin in biological systems.
References
Kadoma Y and Fujisawa S. Radical-scavenging activity of melatonin, either alone or in combination with vitamin E, ascorbate or 2-mercaptoethanol as co-antioxidants, using the induction period method. In Vivo. 25(1): 49-53. Jan-Feb 2011.
Comment
This research attempts to elucidate how the pro-oxidant effects of melatonin / ascorbate or vitamin E mixtures induced by radical oxidizing activity may help to explain the anticancer activity of melatonin.
