Melatonin
Pineal hormone · sleep / circadian-rhythm research compound
Overview
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine hormone synthesized primarily by the pineal gland during the dark phase of the circadian cycle. Although technically a small-molecule rather than a peptide, melatonin sits in the longevity category here because of its frequent co-formulation with peptide longevity research products (especially Epitalon, which acts in part by modulating pineal melatonin secretion) and its established role in sleep, circadian-rhythm, and antioxidant research. Melatonin is approved in many jurisdictions as a dietary supplement, in some as a prescription medication for sleep and jet-lag indications, and is the most-studied molecule in chronobiology research. Lyochem supplies Melatonin at ≥99.0% HPLC purity, lyophilized 10 mg fill. As a small molecule rather than a peptide, the relevant analytical methods include RP-HPLC for chemical purity, UV-Vis absorbance for identity, and GC-MS or LC-MS for residual-solvent and impurity profiling. Standard 10 mg fill matches typical research and compounding workflows. Melatonin is photosensitive and the storage spec includes light protection; while the molecule is stable at room temperature in light-protected packaging, refrigerated storage extends shelf life and is recommended for long-term hold.
Who buys this, and why
Cognitive and neuropeptide buyers are predominantly research labs running in vivo rodent studies. The dominant administration route in the published literature is intranasal — Semax, Selank, DSIP, Pinealon — because these peptides are not meaningfully blood-brain-barrier permeable when delivered systemically. For in vivo workflows, endotoxin and microbial-limit testing is recommended at the CoA stage so the bioassay readout is not confounded by contamination unrelated to the test article.
Primary buyer fit: academic and contract research laboratories and research laboratories that have validated this peptide into their workflow.
Specifications
- CAS
- 73-31-4
- Molecular Formula
- C13H16N2O2
- Molecular Weight
- 232.28 g/mol
- Purity (HPLC)
- ≥ 99.0%
- Common vial sizes
- 10 mg
- MOQ
- On request
- Lead time
- 7–14 days
- Storage
- Room temperature, protect from light
Documentation available on request
- Lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
- RP-HPLC chromatogram with peak integration
- ESI-MS identity confirmation (±0.5 Da)
- Sequence verification by LC-MS/MS
- Water content by Karl Fischer
- SDS / MSDS
- Bacterial endotoxin (LAL) on request — in vivo workflows
- Intranasal-formulation reconstitution guidance
- Sequence ladder (full b/y-ion) on request
Regulatory note
Sold for Research Use Only under the receiving laboratory's institutional and jurisdictional regulations. Not a finished dosage form and not labelled for human administration. In vivo research workflows should request endotoxin and microbial-limit testing on the specific lot so the bioassay readout is not confounded by contamination.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melatonin a peptide?▾
No, melatonin is an indoleamine, a small molecule derived from the amino acid tryptophan through a four-step enzymatic pathway. It's not a peptide and the analytical methods used to characterize melatonin differ from those used for peptides. We include it in the catalog because melatonin is commonly co-formulated with peptide longevity research products, especially Epitalon (which acts in part through pineal-melatonin pathway modulation). Buyers should not confuse the analytical packet for melatonin (RP-HPLC for chemical purity, UV-Vis, residual-solvent profiling) with the analytical packet for peptide products (HPLC, mass spec, sequence verification).
What's the relationship between Melatonin and Epitalon in longevity research?▾
Epitalon is hypothesized to act in part by modulating endogenous pineal melatonin secretion, the molecule was originally identified through fractionation of pineal-gland tetrapeptide extracts, and several published Khavinson-school studies have measured restoration of age-decline melatonin rhythms in elderly subjects given Epitalon. Combining direct Melatonin supplementation with Epitalon is therefore a common workflow in Khavinson-class longevity research: the Melatonin provides immediate exogenous hormone, while the Epitalon hypothesis is that it helps restore the underlying pineal-secretion capacity. Lyochem's Melatonin and Epitalon products are commonly ordered together for these workflows.
Why does Melatonin require light protection during storage?▾
Melatonin is photosensitive, exposure to visible light (especially UV wavelengths) initiates photochemical degradation pathways that produce kynuramine derivatives and other byproducts. The degradation accelerates in solution but also occurs in the solid lyophilized form on prolonged light exposure. The operational consequence is amber-glass or opaque-container storage rather than clear glass, with the vial kept in a dark environment between uses. Solid lyophilized melatonin protected from light is stable for the standard 24-month re-test window at room temperature; refrigerated storage extends shelf life further but is not strictly necessary for the lyophilized form.
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