Ahmet KORKMAZ, Dun-Xian TAN, Russel J. REITER

Melatonin; An established radioprotective agent against Japan’s nuclear disaster

Yaygın kullanımına ve iyonizan radyasyona maruziyetin iyi bilinen potansiyel tehlikelerine rağmen ülkeler, Japonya’nın kuzeydoğusunda görüldüğü gibi nükleer patlamaya bağlı salınım durumunda kendi vatandaşlarını korumak için çaresiz bir şekilde kötü donanıma sahiptirler. Nükleer patlamaya bağlı salınım durumunda insanları iyonizan radyasyonun tehlikeli etkilerinden koruyacak pratik bir yol yoktur. Sağlık otoriteleri tiroid kanserlerini önlemek için insanlara potasyum iyodür dağıtabilirler. Bir diğer koruyucu girişim radyoprotektif özellikleri ile tanınan amifostin kullanımı olabilir. Melatonin (N-asetil-5-metoksi triptamin) pineal bezden salınan, güçlü radyoprotektif özellikleri bilinen bir üründür. Melatoninin benzersiz bir antioksidan olduğu ve iyonizan radyasyonu da içeren bir çok tehlikeli ajana karşı DNA ve kromozom koruyucusu olduğu hem insan hem hayvan deneylerinde açıkça gösterilmiştir.

Melatonin; Japon nükleer felaketine karşı etkin bir radyasyondan koruyucu ajan

In spite of its widespread use and the well known potential hazards associated with exposure to ionizing radiation, countries are poorly ill-equipped to protect their citizens in case of a fallout as seen in northeastern region of Japan. In case of nuclear fallout, there is no practical way to save people from the hazardous effects of ionizing radiation. Health authorities may provide potassium iodide for people to prevent thyroid cancer. Another preventive attempt would be using amifostine, a well known agent with radioprotective features. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a pineal product which is also known to have robust radioprotective features. Both human and experimental animal studies have clearly shown that it is a unique antioxidant and a DNA and chromosome protector against a variety of harmful agents including ionizing radiation

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