Rapid and sensitive electrochemical detection of melatonin in complex biological matrices

Melatonin is crucial in regulating various physiological functions in the human body. Its deficiency has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, the management of neurodivergent individuals, and cardiovascular disorders. This study introduces a novel electrochemical strategy for sensitively detecting melatonin using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode, applied to commercial formulations and liver tissue samples from Wistar rats. Melatonin levels were monitored following intraperitoneal administration in both untreated (control) and melatonin-treated groups. Using a complex biological matrix of liver tissue demonstrates the method’s robustness and selectivity in real biological environments. The method exhibited excellent sensitivity, with limits of detection and quantification determined as 55.5 nM (12.89 ng mL⁻1) and 0.18 µM (4.81 ng mL⁻1), respectively. Melatonin recovery rates were highly efficient, reaching 99% for the commercial sample, 92% for samples obtained from the untreated group, and 94% for the melatonin-treated groups. These findings highlight the potential of the BDD electrode as a rapid, sensitive, and reliable analytical tool for detecting melatonin, even in complex biological matrices. The ability to measure melatonin directly in biological tissues lays the groundwork for future clinical and pharmacological studies, enabling more precise monitoring of therapeutic levels and metabolic responses.Graphical abstract