MELATONIN - A REVIEW ON THE LESSER KNOWN POTENTIAL NUTRACEUTICAL

Melatonin, a pineal hormone is known to regulate rhythmic behavior of mammals. Its ubiquitous presence, established recently has brought into focus several health-promoting benefits of this molecule. However, till date, melatonin has been less utilized from its nutraceutical and functional point of view. This paper reviews the chemistry, chemical synthesis, metabolism of melatonin; its sources including its bioavailability from the same, its role in mammals and in plants and the analytical techniques for quantitative analysis of the same. The nutraceutical potential of melatonin and its functional properties have been elaborated. Melatonin's function as a direct free radical scavenger endows it the potency to act as strong antioxidants- a property which needs to be further researched upon to establish its efficacy in food applications.