Technical Data Sheet
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
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| Evidence Tier | Approved Drug |
|---|---|
| Category | Anti-Aging & Longevity |
| 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 |
| Sequence | N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine |
| Molecular Weight | ~232.28 Da |
| CAS | 73-31-4 |
| Parent | Pineal hormone |
| Mechanism | 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 |
| Administration Route | Injection Only |
| Form | powder or solution |
| Diluent | co-solvent required (lipophilic) |
| Storage Temperature | cool, dry, dark |
| Light Sensitive | Yes |
| Freeze / Thaw | n/a |
| Reconstituted Shelf Life | 14 Days |
| Handling Notes | Short half-life ~20-50 min. |
| Regulatory | US and Canada: over-the-counter (supplement / natural health product). UK, Australia, and parts of the EU: prescription for licensed insomnia formulations. |
| Sources |