==The benefits of Melatonin are==
Melatonin is best known as the hormone that helps us sleep. It has also been proven to stimulate natural "killer cells" by enhancing Interlukin-2 production. Besides helping to increase longevity of cancer patients, they also report a better quality of life. It inhibits cancer cell growth and proliferation; it destroys cancer cells, stops angiogenesis (new tumor blood vessel growth), and prevents harmful forms of estrogen from stimulating cancer cell growth.
Melatonin is a molecule synthesized in the brain by the pineal gland and in the gastrointestinal tract. Melatonin is also synthesized in other organisms including plants.
<p>Melatonin is believed to be responsible for the synchrony of circadian rhythm, modulating sleep patterns with day and night.</p>
<p>Melatonin is an <a href="/Antioxidant.php">antioxidant</a> and protects tissues from oxidative damage by <a href="/free-radical.php">free radical</a> elements. Further more, melatonin induces synthesis of endigenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismtase (SOD).</p>
<p>Several researches indicate that melatonin protects the gastrointestinal tract from irritation, reduces stress-induced lesion formation and heals ulcer.</p>
<p>Below are lists containing natural plant sources of melatonin. Melatonin content is in nanogram (ng) per gram of plant sample.</p>
<p>Table 1: Melatonin sources ( Rieter and Tan, 2002).</p>
<table style="width: 437px; height: 354px;" summary="list of natural food and herbal sources of melatonin" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Melatonin source </strong></td>
<td align="right"><strong>Melatonin content (ng/g) </strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="254">Huang-qin</td>
<td align="right" width="236">7,110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>St. John’s wort, flower</td>
<td align="right">4,390</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fever few, green leaf</td>
<td align="right">2,450</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fever few, gold leaf</td>
<td align="right">1,920</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>St. John’s wort, leaf</td>
<td align="right">1,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>White mustard seed</td>
<td align="right">189</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Black mustard seed</td>
<td align="right">129</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wolf berry seed</td>
<td align="right">103</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fenugreek seed</td>
<td align="right">43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sunflower seed</td>
<td align="right">29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fennel seed</td>
<td align="right">28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alfalfa seed</td>
<td align="right">16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Green cardamom seed</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tart cherry fruit (Montmorency)</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/Flax-seed.php">Flax seed</a></td>
<td align="right">12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anise seed</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Coriander seed</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Celery seed</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Poppy seed</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Milk thistle seed</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tart cherry fruit (Balaton)</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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== References ==