Contribution to determining the antioxidant capacity of melatonin in orodispersible tablets – comparison with reference antioxidants

INTRODUCTION: Melatonin is a hormone used in the treatment of diverse pathologies due to its ability to regulate numerous physiological processes related to biological rhythms and neuroendocrine function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study examines whether or not the antioxidant capacities of melatonin are modified during the creation of fast disintegrating oral tablets (FDDTs) through direct compression in which different concentrations of the active substance (3, 5, 10 and 60 mg) and excipients are made. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of melatonin is compared with that of reference antioxidants such as vitamin C, Trolox, resveratrol, glutathione and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). RESULTS: Melatonin has a lower antioxidant capacity only 5% of the capacity of resveratrol. Resveratrol is the compound having the greatest antioxidant capacity. As for the influence of the tablets components, it was found that only at higher concentrations of melatonin (60 mg/tablet), with the excipients mannitol, polyvinylpyrrolidone (crospovidone), magnesium stearate and anhydrous colloidal silica, did a decrease occur in the antioxidant capacity value, possibly due to the lower percentage of these excipients in the formulation.