Natural Melatonin from Pistachio Extract : Improved Sleep and Wellness

By Admin | 2024-10-18 14:54:38 | News

Natural Melatonin from Pistachio Extract : Improved Sleep and Wellness

Sleep is a vital physiological function essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. Despite its importance, many people suffer from sleep disorders, with insomnia being one of the most prevalent. Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, trouble resuming sleep, waking up too early, and feeling unrefreshed after sleep. These disturbances can significantly impair daytime functioning, causing fatigue, mood disturbances, and cognitive impairments. Chronic insomnia can lead to substantial productivity loss both personally and professionally.

During sleep, the body undergoes various restorative processes critical for the proper functioning of the endocrine and immune systems. This makes sleep one of the most instinctive and essential physiological needs for sustaining health and mental stability. Other sleep disorders include hypersomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnoea, each with unique challenges that can severely impact an individual’s quality of life. So, addressing sleep disorders is essential for improving overall health and quality of life. Understanding the importance of sleep and recognizing the signs of sleep disorders can help individuals seek appropriate treatments and interventions to restore healthy sleep patterns.

Understanding Melatonin

Melatonin, scientifically known as N-acetyl-5-methoxy tryptamine, is a hormone that plays a key role in regulating sleep-wake cycles. First isolated from the bovine pineal gland, melatonin’s production is influenced by the light-dark cycle. Its levels typically rise in the evening to promote sleep and fall in the morning to help wakefulness. The oscillating levels of melatonin in the blood, aligned with circadian rhythms, are one of the most studied aspects of this molecule.

During the first period of sleep, blood melatonin levels increase to around 150–220 pmoles/mL. This rise aids in sleep initiation, reduces sleep latency and fragmentation, and enhances sleep duration and quality. Extensive research into melatonin’s biological roles has revealed its therapeutic effects, making it a crucial modulator of not only circadian rhythms but also mood, body temperature, locomotor activity, food intake, retinal physiology, sexual behaviour, and the immune system.

Therapeutic Benefits of Melatonin

One of melatonin’s key therapeutic benefits is its ability to alleviate disorders related to disruptions in circadian rhythms. It has been effectively used to treat various sleep disorders:

· Insomnia: Melatonin supplements are commonly used to help individuals who have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. By promoting a more natural sleep onset, melatonin can improve overall sleep quality and duration.

· Jet Lag: Melatonin is effective in managing jet lag, a condition caused by long-distance travel across multiple time zones. It helps realign the sleep-wake cycle with the new time zone, reducing symptoms such as fatigue, disorientation, and difficulty sleeping.

· Other Sleep Disorders: Melatonin has also shown benefits in treating delayed sleep phase syndrome, night shift work sleep disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and sleep disorders in the blind and aging populations. Additionally, it has been used to address pathophysiological sleep disorders in children, leading to notable improvements in sleep quality.

Broader Health Benefits

Beyond its role in sleep regulation, melatonin offers potential health benefits in other areas:

  • Immune Function: Melatonin supports immune system health, enhancing the body’s ability to fend off illnesses.
  • Antioxidant Activity: Melatonin exhibits strong antioxidant properties, helping to protect cells from oxidative stress and damage.
  • Mood Regulation: Melatonin influences mood and emotional well-being, contributing to overall mental health.

Natural Sources of Melatonin

Given the potent health effects of melatonin, many foods have been tested for melatonin, and it was identified and quantified in both animal foods and edible plants. Huge differences in melatonin concentrations were reported among various food species and/or organs, ranging from picograms to milligrams per gram. Additionally, it was well documented that the consumption of melatonin-rich foods may induce potential health impacts by significantly increasing serum melatonin concentration and antioxidant capacity in humans. Therefore, foods containing melatonin are now popular and regarded as promising nutraceuticals.

Melatonin exists widely in many kinds of foodstuffs. However, the content of melatonin in foods exhibits significant differences from species to species. Much higher melatonin was observed in nuts and medicinal herbs.

  • Cereals: Cereals are largely consumed worldwide, and melatonin content has been investigated in various types. Polished rice contains about one-third less melatonin compared to whole rice. Other cereals such as wheat, barley, and oats also contain relatively high levels of melatonin.
  • Fruits: Melatonin is found in many commonly consumed fruits. Grapes, cherries, and strawberries are among the fruits with the highest melatonin content.
  • Vegetables: Melatonin exists in many common vegetables, although it remains undetectable in potatoes and is very low in beetroots. Tomatoes and peppers have been found to have relatively high melatonin concentrations.
  • Nuts: Melatonin has been found in various nuts, with pistachios (Pistacia vera L.) reported to have the highest content.

Melatonin in Pistachios

Nuts are an integral part of the Mediterranean diet, and melatonin has been found in several types, including popular varieties such as almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. Pistacia vera, a member of the Anacardiaceae family, is a notable medicinal plant with various reported pharmacological functions. Different phytochemical constituents, such as terpenoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and sterols, have been isolated and identified from various parts of Pistacia species, primarily of Iranian origin. Interestingly, Pistacia species are among the plants with the highest reported melatonin levels.

In a research study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutics, the potential of Pistacia vera extract to potentiate the effect of melatonin on human melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors was investigated. The study assessed 25 plant extracts, known for their beneficial properties in treating sleep disorders and anxiety, using cellular assays (2?[125I] iodomelatonin binding, cAMP inhibition, ERK1/2 activation, and β-arrestin2 recruitment) in mock-transfected and HEK293 cells expressing MT1 or MT2 receptors. The extract from dried fruits of Pistacia vera demonstrated very potent effects in cells expressing melatonin receptors.

Biological Melatonin versus Synthetic Melatonin

Initially, melatonin for experimental and clinical studies was sourced from animals, primarily from the pineal gland and urine. This method posed significant risks, including viral transmission. Consequently, these techniques were replaced when melatonin could be produced via chemical synthesis. Although these synthetic methods have evolved to be much safer and more efficient, they presented serious problems in the 1980s, including deaths caused by synthesis by-products from tryptophan.

Despite improvements, synthetic melatonin preparations still contain various undesirable by-products due to their toxic nature. For instance, synthesizing melatonin from tryptophan derivatives can generate toxic by-products that have sometimes led to significant health issues, such as eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. Moreover, the current methods for synthesizing melatonin from phthalimide raise concerns about the toxicity of several generated by-products. Additionally, Fischer indole reactions from allylamine involve dangerous and toxic reactants.

Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis for the Authentication of Natural Melatonin

In recent years, stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) has become widely used in food science, not only for tracing the geographical origin of products but also for ensuring their authenticity by differentiating between natural and synthetic or biosynthetic ingredients. This technique has found particular application in nutraceutical products and those with pharmacological properties, which are increasingly in demand for their natural origins.

Chemically identical molecules can have completely different isotope ratios, which vary based on several factors. The carbon stable isotope ratio (δ13C) is influenced by the photosynthetic cycle of the plant (C3, C4, or CAM) from which the molecule is derived, or by the fossil source used as a precursor in the chemical synthesis of the molecule. For example, C4 plants typically have δ13C values between −14 and −12‰, whereas C3 plants range from −29 to −25‰, as reported by O’Leary et al. In contrast, fossil fuels, which are commonly used in the chemical synthesis of various molecules, have very low δ13C values, ranging from −42.5‰ to −25.5‰. This distinct difference in isotope ratios allows SIRA to effectively authenticate the natural origin of melatonin.

In summary, melatonin is essential for sleep regulation and overall health. Pistachios, rich in natural melatonin, offer a promising alternative to synthetic supplements, enhancing sleep quality and alleviating disorders. Stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) further ensures the authenticity of natural melatonin, distinguishing it from synthetic sources. Incorporating melatonin-rich foods like pistachios into the diet can naturally improve sleep and wellness.


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