Role of Melatonin in Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury

Figure 1

Biochemical synthesis of melatonin. Tryptophan acts as a precursor for melatonin synthesis. AAD is responsible for the conversion of 5-hydroxytryptophan into serotonin. Melatonin is formed from serotonin through a phase of reaction with the help of two enzymes, AANAT and HIOMT. Acetylation of serotonin occurs with the action of AANAT which forms N-acetylserotonin and subsequently HIOMT converts N-acetylserotonin into melatonin.