مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري

Abstract :

Melatonin; secreted from the pineal gland, is an endojen hormone that is responsible for regulation of the light-dark cycle and which antioxidant effects have been shown firstly in 1991. Following its isolation from pineal extracts, the role of melatonin in many pysiological and pathological events like photoperiodism, puberty and sleep has been investigated. Melatonin is ubiquitously distributed and because of its small size and amphiphilic nature, it is able to reach easily all cellular and subcellular compartments. It is a natural occurring compound with well-known antioxidant properties and has been proven as a powerful cytostatic drug in vitro as well as in vivo.The efficacy of melatonin has been assessed as a treatment of ocular diseases, blood diseases, gastrointestinal tract diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, infectious diseases, neurological diseases, sleep disturbances, aging and depression. This review summarizes the pharmacokinetic properties and physiologic and pharmacological effects of melatonin.