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Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Lipid peroxidation in pigmented and unpigmented liver tissues: protective role of melanin
Abstract:
The protective role of melanin as an antioxidant biopolymer against lipid peroxidation was investigated. In pigmented frog liver and in albino rat liver the following were tested: thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive material (to show the induced lipoperoxidation in vitro), fatty acids, and reduced glutathione content. Our results show that susceptibility to the in vitro lipoperoxidation induced by ferrous ions is lower in the tissue containing melanin, though the content of the polyunsaturated fatty acids is higher in pigmented than in unpigmented tissues and reduced glutathione levels are lower in pigmented tissue. Our data support the hypothesis that melanin could reduce lipoperoxidation in pigmented tissue.
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