Melatonin
Also Known As: N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, Melatonin hormone, Pineal hormone, Mel, Melatol, Circadin, Slenyto, Valdoxan precursor, Sleep hormone, Darkness hormone, Chronobiotic, Pineal gland hormone, MEL, Melatonin acetate, N-Acetylmelatonin precursor, sleep hormone, pineal hormone
Melatonin is a research-grade Endogenous indoleamine neurohormone produced by the pineal gland targeting MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors studied in Anti-Aging & Longevity research. It is supplied strictly for in vitro laboratory research use only - not for human or animal consumption, and not FDA-approved.
Evidence Tier: Approved Drug - FDA and/or EMA approved with robust human trial data.
The sleep and circadian hormone, studied for sleep onset and jet lag; a supplement in the US.
At A Glance
| Category | Anti-Aging & Longevity |
|---|---|
| Compound Class | Endogenous indoleamine neurohormone produced by the pineal gland |
| Molecular Target | MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors (MTNR1A/MTNR1B); ROR nuclear receptors; ROS scavenging; mitochondrial membrane stabilization |
| Molecular Weight | 232.28 Da |
| Amino Acid Sequence | N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine |
| CAS Number | 73-31-4 |
| Half-Life | ~20-50 min (IR) |
| WADA Status | not_listed |
| Evidence Tier | Approved Drug |
Mechanism Of Action
It binds to receptors in the brain that regulate the circadian rhythm (your internal clock), lowering body temperature and signaling the nervous system to initiate the sleep cycle.
Studied For
- Sleep onset / insomnia
- Circadian rhythm entrainment
- Jet-lag disorders
- Shift work sleep disorder
- Antioxidant / neuroprotection research
- Anti-aging / longevity
- Immune system modulation
- Cancer adjuvant research
- Alzheimer's / neurodegeneration models
- Sepsis / intensive care research
- Gastrointestinal motility
- Mitochondrial protection
- Blood pressure regulation
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) research
- Pediatric sleep disorders
- Delayed sleep phase syndrome
- REM behavior disorder
- sleep
- circadian rhythm
- antioxidant
- jet lag
- insomnia
Reported Research Findings
Human meta-analyses show a modest reduction in sleep-onset latency and reliable circadian phase-shifting. Oncology and neuroprotective human data are preliminary.
Safety And Handling Notes
Low toxicity; daytime drowsiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, vivid dreams. US over-the-counter products are frequently mislabeled.
Interacts with anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, antihypertensives, and CYP1A2 drugs. Timing matters; wrong-time dosing can shift the clock the wrong way.
Regulatory Status
US and Canada: over-the-counter (supplement / natural health product). UK, Australia, and parts of the EU: prescription for licensed insomnia formulations.
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