Aim: to examine the therapeutic efficiency of melanin administered to mice after irradiation at lethal and sublethal doses. Material and methods: Survival and hematological states were studied on CD-1 mice receiving on acute or fractionated whole-body doses on X-rays or gamma-irradiation. Melanin soluble was given with water ad libitum from the first to the 30th-day after irradiation. Results. It was shown that melanin produced a significant therapeutic and protective-therapeutic action against acute radiation injury in the dose range 6,5-7,5 Gy (LD80-LD under our conditions). Cumulative survival melanin treated mice was increased to 14,4%, in control group — 1,9%. After fractionated injury (1 Gy daily, total dose 10 Gy) all mice which consumed melanin remained alive, versus 43,7% in control. Melanin decreased radiation-induced damage and stimulated the hematopoiesis recovery after sublethal exposure (5Gy). Conclusion. The results permit to regard melanin as a therapeutic agent for treatment of radiation injuries.
Bushmanov A.Ju., Ivanov А.А., Andrianova I.E., Stavrakova N.M., Bulinina T.M., Dorozhkina O.V. Antiradiation properties of melanin // Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research, Vol. 10, Issue 4, 2014, pp. 828-832

Based on the experimental data obtained in vivo from digital analysis of color images of human irises, the mean melanin content in human eye irises has been estimated. For registration of color images the digital camera Olympus C-5060 has been used. The images have been obtained from irises of healthy volunteers as well as from irises of patients with open-angle glaucoma. The computer program has been developed for digital analysis of the images. The result has been useful for development of novel methods and optimization of already existing ones for non-invasive glaucoma diagnostics.
E. V. Koblova, T. G. Kamenskikh, A. N. Bashkatov, E. A. Genina, V. V. Tuchin ESTIMATION OF MELANIN CONTENT IN IRIS OF HUMAN EYE // Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research, Vol. 4, Issue 4, 2008, pp. 53-55