Abstract
Introduction: Melatonin has long been recognized for its role in regulating sleep and circadian rhythms. However, an expanding body of evidence highlights its diverse therapeutic potential far beyond sleep regulation. This mini-review explores the multifaceted biological actions of melatonin across various clinical domains.
Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using terms such as “melatonin,” “neuroprotection,” “anti-inflammatory,” “antioxidant,” “neurodegenerative,” “immunomodulatory,” “oncostatic,” and “geroprotection.” Relevant studies were screened to summarize the mechanisms and therapeutic utility of melatonin.
Results: Recent studies emphasize melatonin’s significant benefits in neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease, by modulating amyloid-β aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and micro ribonucleic acid networks. In autoimmune neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, melatonin may improve sleep, cognition, and fatigue through immunoregulatory mechanisms while remaining well-tolerated. In psychiatric disorders, as well as neonatal and pediatric medicine, melatonin has shown efficacy and safety in various clinical trials. Some of its cardiovascular and metabolic advantages include blood pressure reduction, enhanced endothelial function, and improved glycemic control. Oncostatic properties are evident in both hormone-dependent and independent cancers through antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and immune-modulatory mechanisms. Additionally, melatonin possesses anti-aging and geroprotective effects, attenuating age-related declines through robust antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and mitochondrial protective pathways. Despite a strong safety profile, further high-quality clinical trials are warranted to optimize dosing and clarify long-term impacts.
Conclusion: Overall, although melatonin emerges as a promising adjunct therapy for diverse medical conditions, its limitations include reliance on short-term studies, heterogeneity in dosing, and the need for larger randomized trials.