Melatonin treatment improves the antioxidant status and decreases lipid content in brain and liver of rats

This study examines the effect of a daily administration of melatonin for 45 days at two doses (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg body wt.) on antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation and lipid profile in the brain and liver in rats. Both doses of melatonin caused a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and the levels of cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides and free fatty acids in the examined tissues. Concomitantly, the treatment with melatonin augmented the activity of the brain and liver antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase as well as increased glutathione levels. These results offer a support to the hypothesis that melatonin in pharmacological amounts effectively reduces oxidative stress and acts as an antihyperlipidemic agent. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.