Melatonin  (Synonyms: N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)

Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland that can activate melatonin receptor and inhibit PANoptosis. Melatonin plays a role in sleep and possesses important antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties^[1][2][3]. Melatonin is a novel selective ATF-6 inhibitor and induces human hepatoma cell apoptosis through COX-2 downregulation^[4]. Melatonin attenuates palmitic acid-induced (HY-N0830) mouse granulosa cells apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress^[5][6].

Melatonin increases the levels of activated PTEN, RSK-1, mTOR and AMPKα kinases, mildly inhibits ERK-1/2 phosphorylation and Bad phosphorylation, significantly inhibits phosphorylations of S6 Ribosomal Protein, 4E-BP1, GSK-3α and GSK-3β, and slightly increases PRAS40 phosphorylation in animals^[1]. Melatonin ameliorates the neurotoxiciy and astrocyte activation induced by Aβ_1-42 in the cerebral cortex. Melatonin also blocks the reduction in Reelin and Dab1 expression induced by Aβ_1-42^[2]. Melatonin treatment and lack of NLRP3^-/- share similar inhibition of NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling pathway in mice. Melatonin treatment and lack of NLRP3^-/- share some patterns of clock genes expression, and improve cardiomyocytes morphology in mice^[3].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

232.28

C₁₃H₁₆N₂O₂

73-31-4

Solid

White to light yellow

CC(NCCC1=CNC2=C1C=C(OC)C=C2)=O

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

* Please refer to the solubility information to select the appropriate solvent. Once prepared, please aliquot and store the solution to prevent product inactivation from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Storage method and period of stock solution: -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month. When stored at -80°C, please use it within 6 months. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 month.

* Note: If you choose water as the stock solution, please dilute it to the working solution, then filter and sterilize it with a 0.22 μm filter before use.

• [1]. Kilic U, et al. Particular phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt on Thr308 via PDK-1 and PTEN mediates melatonin's neuroprotective activity after focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Redox Biol. 2017 Apr 5;12:657-665  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Hu C, et al. Neuroprotective effect of melatonin on soluble Aβ1-42-induced cortical neurodegeneration via Reelin-Dab1 signaling pathway. Neurol Res. 2017 Apr 7:1-1  [Content Brief]

  [3]. Rahim I, et al. Melatonin administration to wild-type mice and non-treated NLRP3 mutant mice share similar inhibition of the inflammatory response during sepsis. J Pineal Res. 2017 Mar 31  [Content Brief]

  [4]. Bu LJ, et al. Melatonin, a novel selective ATF-6 inhibitor, induces human hepatoma cell apoptosis through COX-2 downregulation. World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Feb 14;23(6):986-998.  [Content Brief]

  [5]. Zhi Chen, et al. Melatonin attenuates palmitic acid-induced mouse granulosa cells apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress. J Ovarian Res. 2019 May 10;12(1):43.  [Content Brief]

  [6]. Meng S, et al. Reactive oxygen species/hypoxia dual-responsive polymers combined with melatonin inhibited PANoptosis of retinal ganglion cells for acute glaucoma treatment. Theranostics. 2026 Jan 1;16(2):830-851.  [Content Brief]