Melatonin: A potent therapeutic candidate in degenerative neural damages

Abstract

The hormone of darkness "melatonin" has shown extraordinary potential. Owing to versatile properties which include, but are not limited to, strong antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and chronotherapeutic action has generated a great deal of interest as a therapeutic drug for various diseases especially neural damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Melatonin has shown to be effective in arresting neurodegeneration in experimental models of Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's disease, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke. In this article, the authors review the role of melatonin in neural damage and associated diseases. Briefly, we will discuss the function and protective role of melatonin in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Subsequently, an overview of the role of melatonin in endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in neural tissues along with possible biological pathways will be addressed. Finally, we will review the action of melatonin on programmed cell death and its probable molecular mechanism.