Copyright © 1996, 1997, 2001 by Galen Daryl Knight and VitaleTherapeutics,
Inc.
Structural Homology Among Indoles
Melanin, the pigment responsible for dark skin in some peoples and for
tanning after exposure to sunlight in light-skinned peoples, is produced
from the "natural" indole and amino acid, tryptophan. Melatonin, which
is synthesized by our bodies only in the dark, blocks the synthesis of
melanin. Other structurally-related compounds have the potential for either
blocking or mimicking melatonin depending upon the ligands that are attached
either to the indole or to a related functional group (teleocidins or ethoxyquin,
respectively). It is interesting that the teleocidins
promote skin cancer while other indoles
inhibit the induction of neoplasia. It is also interesting that ethoxyquin
shares antioxidant properties with melatonin, but that the non-nutritive
preservative has toxic side effects.
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