Difference Wiki

Melanin vs. Melatonin

Both, Melanin and Melatonin are the chemical substances found in living organisms which are responsible for several function in the body. Their functions, existence and synthesis clearly tells that they are a lot different to each other but people often get confuse while using them as they have quite a similar pronunciation. Melanin is the pigment that is produced by the melanocytes within the stratum. They determine the skin colour and work as a shield against the UV rays, which can cause skin cancer. On the other hand, Melatonin is the hormone, which is produced by the pineal gland. It regulates the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and photoperiodic (seasonal function). The lacking of melatonins can cause sleeping disorder and can indulge one in to deep anxiety, whereas lack of melanin can cause skin cancer.

Key Differences

Melanin is the pigment that is produced by the melanocytes within the stratum. On the other hand, Melatonin is the hormone, which is produced by the pineal gland.
Melanin determine the skin colour and work as a shield against the UV rays, which can cause skin cancer, whereas melatonin regulates the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and photoperiodic (seasonal function).
In human body, melanins generally have two polymers; pheomelanin: it is red/yellow and is produced in pheomelanosomes, and eumelanin: it is dark brown/black and is produced in eumelanosomes.
Samantha Walker
Dec 23, 2016
The lacking of melatonins can cause sleeping disorder and can indulge one in to deep anxiety, whereas lack of melanin can cause skin cancer.

Comparison Chart

.

Melanin is the pigment that is produced by the melanocytes within the stratum.
Melatonin is the hormone, which is produced by the pineal gland.

Function

Melanin determine the skin colour and work as a shield against the UV rays.
Melatonin regulates the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and photoperiodic (seasonal function).
ADVERTISEMENT

Lacking

The lacking of melatonins can cause sleeping disorder and can indulge one in to deep anxiety.
Lack of melanin can cause skin cancer.

Melanin and Melatonin Definitions

Melanin

Any of a group of naturally occurring dark pigments, especially the pigment found in skin, hair, fur, and feathers.

Melatonin

An animal hormone, C13H16N2O2, derived from serotonin and produced by the pineal gland. It stimulates color change in the skin of amphibians and reptiles and plays a role in regulating circadian rhythms and reproductive cycles in mammals. It is also found in plants and fungi.

Melanin

(biochemistry) Any of a group of naturally occurring dark pigments, especially the pigment found in skin, hair, fur, and feathers.

Melatonin

A hormone, related to serotonin, that is secreted by the pineal gland, and stimulates colour change in the skin of reptiles, and is involved in the sleep/wake and reproductive cycles in mammals.

Melanin

A black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin (particularly in the skin of the negro), in the epithelial cells of the external layer of the retina (then called fuscin), in the outer layer of the choroid, and elsewhere. It is supposed to be derived from the decomposition of hemoglobin.
ADVERTISEMENT

Melatonin

Any material similar in its chemistry and effect to the natural hormone.

Melanin

Insoluble pigments that account for the color of e.g. skin and scales and feathers

Melatonin

A hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Chemically it is N-acety-5-methoxytryptamine. Research has indicated that there are daily rhythms in secretion of melatonin, in particular due to the depressing effect on melatonin production by light received by the retina. Conversely it appears that melatonin may influence the circadian rhythms of animals. There is some experimental evidence that administration of melatonin may increase the amount of sleep in people with sleep disorders. However, the evidence is not convincing and the effect is not profound. Nevertheless, the deregulation of melatonin and its availability over-the-counter has led to many people taking melatonin to help sleep, without consulting a physician.
A role for melatonin in sleep facilitation has been inferred from its effect on electroencephalogram patterns, but it has not been possible to demonstrate that wakefulness sleep cycles are driven by periodic accumulation, depletion, or regeneration of melatonin.

Melatonin

Hormone secreted by the pineal gland

What is Melanin?

Melanin is the pigment in human body (animal) that is mostly held responsible for the skin colour of an individual, although they perform various functions other than that, but theyr are prominently recognized on this particular function. The final color of skin totally depends on the melanins, which is a pigment produced by the melanocytes, which are present in the ear, hair, skin and CNS (Central Nervous System) of the body. The color of an individual’s skin directly depends upon the presence of melanin and the distribution of melanosomes within the skin. In human body, melanins generally have two polymers; pheomelanin: it is red/yellow and is produced in pheomelanosomes, and eumelanin: it is dark brown/black and is produced in eumelanosomes. Other than determining skin colour, these pigments also perform several other functions. The most important out of them is providing the resistance against the Ultra Violet (UV) Rays, which can cause the skin cancer.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is the hormone, which does multi tasking in the human body. It is produced by the pineal gland, which is located in the center of brain between two hemispheres.Melatonin is biosynthesized using the amino acid Tryptophan while it is being produced in the pea size pineal gland. It regulates the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and photoperiodic (seasonal function). In easy words, we can say that melatonin is responsible for the continuation of human routine cycle or it works as a clock of the human system as it sets the sleep and wake patterns and also looks after several other timing related tasks like food taking timing. Melatonin is also used as a drug for those suffering with insomnia, which is a disease of sleeping disorder. Other than that, it also works as an effective drug against the anxiety and mirgarines.

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons