Abstract: Melanin represents a group of natural pigments, which is widely dispersed in the organisms and possesses many important physiological functions. In this paper, some research advances of the natural melanin, including solubility, light absorbance, redox, chelating metal ions, free radical of physicochemical properties and strengthened structures, radiation resisting, antioxidation, chelating heavy metal, antiviral, anti-aging, immune regulation, DNA protection of functional properties were reported.