Melatonin intervention to prevent nanomaterial exposure-induced damages: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies

Abstract

Given its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties, melatonin (MEL), a health-caring food to improve sleep disorders, is hypothesized to protect against nanomaterial exposure-induced toxicity. However, the conclusion derived from different studies seemed inconsistent. A meta-analysis of all available preclinical studies was performed to examine the effects of MEL on nanomaterial-induced damages. Eighteen relevant studies were retrieved through searching five electronic databases up to December 2023. The meta-analysis showed that relative to control, MEL treatment significantly increased cell viability (standardized mean difference [SMD = 1.27]) and alleviated liver function (lowered AST [SMD = −3.89] and ALT [SMD = −5.89]), bone formation (enhanced BV/TV [SMD = 4.13] and lessened eroded bone surface [SMD = −5.40]), and brain nerve (inhibition of AChE activity [SMD = −3.60]) damages in animals. The protective mechanisms of MEL against damages caused by nanomaterial exposure were associated with its antiapoptotic (decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio [SMD = −4.50] and caspase-3 levels [dose <100 μM: SMD = −3.66]), antioxidant (decreased MDA [in vitro: SMD = −2.84; in vivo: SMD = −4.27]), and anti-inflammatory (downregulated TNF-α [in vitro: SMD = −5.41; in vivo: SMD = −3.21] and IL-6 [in vitro: SMD = −5.90; in vivo: SMD = −2.81]) capabilities. In conclusion, our study suggests that MEL should be supplemented to prevent damages in populations exposed to nanomaterials.