Melatonin as chelator of several metals--S. African study in pubmed

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This document states that melatonin is a known chelator! To the degree that

they use it to pretreat cells before proving that mercury damages cells in

the brain (but not if pretreated with melatonin). Also, on page 2 of 6 it

says that melatonin binds:

Aluminum

Cadmium

Copper

Iron

Lead

And

Zinc

(From Limson et al, 1998 Full reference and abstract from PUBMEd on limson

paper below. )

Thus it could presumbably bring zinc down too low?

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1: J Pineal Res. <javascript:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'J Pineal Res.');> 1998

Jan;24(1):15-21. Links <javascript:PopUpMenu2_Set(Menu9468114);>

The interaction of melatonin and its precursors with aluminium, cadmium,

copper, iron, lead, and zinc: an adsorptive voltammetric study.

* Limson J

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pu

bmed_AbstractPlus & term=%22Limson+J%22%5BAuthor%5D> ,

* Nyokong T

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pu

bmed_AbstractPlus & term=%22Nyokong+T%22%5BAuthor%5D> ,

* Daya S

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pu

bmed_AbstractPlus & term=%22Daya+S%22%5BAuthor%5D> .

Department of Chemistry, University, Grahamstown, South Africa.

Melatonin, a pineal secretory product, and its precursors, tryptophan and

serotonin, were examined for their metal binding affinities for both

essential and toxic metals: aluminium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, and

zinc. An electrochemical technique, adsorptive stripping voltammetry, showed

the varying abilities of melatonin and its precursors to bind the metals in

situ. The results show that the following metal complexes were formed:

aluminium with melatonin, tryptophan, and serotonin; cadmium with melatonin

and tryptophan; copper with melatonin and serotonin; iron(III) with

melatonin and serotonin; lead with melatonin, tryptophan, and serotonin; and

zinc with melatonin and tryptophan. Iron(II) showed the formation of an in

situ complex with tryptophan only. These studies suggest a further role for

melatonin in the reduction of free radical generation and metal

detoxification, and they may explain the accumulation of aluminium in

Alzheimer's disease.

[NOTE FROM CAROLYN W: WHAT THEY MEAN IS THAT AS PEOPLE AGE THEY PRODUCE FAR

LESS MELATONIN, THUS ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO DAMAGE FROM SAY ALUMINUM. I KNOW

THIS BECAUSE OF THE EARLIER DOCUMENT QUOTING THIS]

PMID: 9468114 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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