MELATONIN

Melatonin

Melatonin, also known chemically as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a hormone found in animals, plants, and microbes. In animals, circulating levels of melatonin vary in a daily cycle, thereby allowing the entrainment of the circadian rhythms of several biological functions.

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melatonin

Noun

  1. A hormone, related to serotonin, that is secreted by the pineal gland, and stimulates colour change in the skin of reptiles, and is involved in the sleep/wake and reproductive cycles in mammals
  2. Any material similar in its chemistry and effect to the natural hormone.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: melatonin
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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