Melatonin, oxidative stress and ageing

Melatonin, the hormone secreted from the pineal gland, has an important role in regulating a number of physiological functions in the body. Of these, the antioxidative function has attained much importance because of its close association with the ageing process, The involvement of oxidative stress in ageing has been supported by genetic and dietary restriction studies. As melatonin has direct genomic actions and also forms a part of antioxidative defence system, the level of this hormone in the body fluids is the crucial factor that determines the healthy state of cells and tissues in the body. The progressive decline in melatonin secretion with increase in age has been suggested to be one of the main factors that enhance the effects of oxidative stress causing much cellular damage resulting in senescence and age-associated degenerative diseases.