Separation and assay methods for melatonin and its precursors

Melatonin is an indoleamine hormone that is synthesized from tryptophan via 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin and N-acetylserotonin in the vertebrate pin eal gland. Many chromatographic and non-chromatographic techniques have bee n developed and improved for the determination and measurement of melatonin and its related indoleamines. At present, gas chromatography with mass spe ctrometry and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fl uorescence or electrochemical detection are widely used for indoleamine det erminations in the pineal gland. This review will deal with methods for the separation and determination of the melatonin and its related indoleamines . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.