The effect of Melatonin pretreatment on growth responses and enhancement of the enzymatic antioxidant system in Chlorella vulgaris under stress of ionizing radiation

Melatonin as a compound made by photosynthetic organizers protects them against many environmental stresses. Modulating mechanisms of melatonin, as a protector are not well known in early eukaryotes, such as algae. In this research, the effect of melatonin pre-treatment on evaluating Chlorella vulgaris resistance to gamma ionizing radiation was investigated. The results showed that 100 µM concentrations of melatonin had a significant increase in the growth of algal cell and activity of the ascorbate peroxidase enzyme as one of the components of the enzymatic antioxidant system.