It was found that melatonin and its derivatives, such as N-acetyl- 5-methoxytryptamine (MT), N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (NAS), 5-Methoxytrypt- amine (5-MT), 5-Methoxyindolyl acetic acid (5-MIAA) and N-acetyl-5-methoxy- 6-hydroxytryptamine (6-HMT) would give chemiluminescence in the acidic potassium permanganate solution, and formaldehyde would enhance this chemiluminescent reaction greatly. The optimum conditions for this chemiluminescent reaction were studied in detail by a flow injection system. A new simple rapid method has been developed under the optimum conditions for determination of melatonin. This method has the advantages of high sensitivity, wide range of linear response and low detection limit. On the basis of investigation of chemiluminescent, fluorescent and UV spectra of melatonin in acidic solution containing potassium permanganate and formaldehyde, a possible mechanism of this reaction was proposed.