Melanin vs Melatonin

Melanin and melatonin are chemically related substances, with many different characteristic features. Their origin, function, chemical composition and location in the human body vary widely, and which will be discussed here in detail.

What is Melanin?

Melanin is one of the major pigments found in human skin, which determines the skin color. It is synthesized by melanocytes, which are located in the skin, eye, ear, hair, and central nervous system of the human body. In addition of providing color, melanin has some other functions, as well. The most important function is the protection of skin from solar UV radiation, which causes skin cancer to humans. Melanin shields the cell’s nuclei, thus prevents DNA damage due to radiation. In addition, it is also involved in hearing.

 

Difference Between Melanin and Melatonin

Human melanin basically contains two polymers; (a) eumelanin, which is dark brown/black and is produced in eumelanosomes, and (b) pheomelanin, which is red/yellow and is produced in pheomelanosomes. Usually, the final color of an individual’s skin depends on the type and amount of melanin produced and the shape, size, and, distribution of the melanosomes in the skin.

 

What is Melatonin? C13H16N2O2

Difference Between Melanin and Melatonin

Melatonin is a neurotransmitter, which is mainly derived from the cells in the gastrointestinal tract, the retina, and the pineal gland. Melatonin is responsible for maintaining sleep wake cycles, biological rhythms, and the modulation and inhibition of melanin synthesis. In addition, melatonin can repair the cells, which have been damaged by stress and disease, and stop the secretion of MSH and ACTH hormones. Also being an antioxidant, melatonin can destroy microorganisms, and thus it is referred to as disease-fighting hormone.

Melatonin is one of the most complex molecules found in the brain, liver, intestines, blood, and muscles. Melatonin is synthesized from Tryptophan, and the synthesis and secretion of melatonin are stimulated by catecholamines.

What is the difference between Melanin and Melatonin?

• Melanin is a pigment produced by tyrosine, whereas melatonin is a neurotransmitter produced by tryptophan.

• The main functions of melatonin are the modulation of the synthesis of melanin, maintaining the sleep wake cycle and biological rhythms in the body, whereas that of melanin are providing skin color, photo-protection, and involving in hearing.

• Melanin is synthesized in melanosomes, which are found in melanocytes, while melatonin is synthesized in the cells of the gastrointestinal tract, retina, and pineal gland.

• Melanin can be found in skin, eye, ear, hair, and central nervous system, whereas melatonin can be found in brain, liver, intestines, blood and muscles.

    Also names mixed up here: Melatonin is a pigment produced by tyrosine, whereas melatonin is a neurotransmitter produced by tryptophan.

        Melatonin is derived from tryptophan and its responsible for sleep cycle where as Melanin is derived from tyrosine which produce pigmentation ( color). hope this helps

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone associated with sleep.

Melanin is the pigment that naturally colors the hair and skin... The more melanin in the hair and skin the darker the hair and skin.

Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates the human biological clock. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, located within the brain. Levels of melatonin in the body fluctuate with the cycles of night and day. The highest melatonin levels are found at night. Melatonin is present in foods only in trace amounts.

Calcification of the pineal gland is shown to be closely related to defective sense of direction (Bayliss et al, 1985). In a tricentre prospective study of 750 patients lateral skull radiographs showed that 394 had calcified pineal glands. Sense of direction was assessed by subjective questioning and objective testing and the results noted on a scale of 0-10 (where 10 equals perfect sense of direction). The average score for the 394 patients with pineal gland calcification was 3.7 (range 0-8), whereas the 356 patients without pineal gland calcification had an average score of 7.6 (range 2-10). This difference was highly significant (p less than 0.01) (Bayliss et al, 1985). Also, the effects of disturbed sleep and memory are well documented.

 

Pineal indolamine (e.g. Melatonin/Serotonin) and peptide hormones influence immune functions. Melatonin, in particular, increases immune memory while T-dependent antigene immunization stimulates antibody production. According to Maestroni (1993), in an article published in the Journal of Pineal Research a tight physiological link between the pineal gland and the immune system is emerging that might reflect the evolutionary connection between self-recognition and reproduction. He goes further, mentioning that Pinealectomy or other experimental methods which inhibit melatonin synthesis and secretion induce a state of immunodepression which is counteracted by melatonin. In general, melatonin appears to have an immunoenhancing effect. An interesting observation is the apparent protection from autoimmune diseases in areas of West Africa and especially in places where malaria is a problem (Greenwood, 1968).

 

melanin protects against cryptoccocus neoformans (parasite of central nervous system) its known that europeans and their descendants suffer from higher rates of many diseases affecting CNS EXAMPLE; huntingtons disease, optic neuritus, parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, PKU, spinal bifida, etc.

 

 

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