Potential Relevance of Melatonin Against Some Infectious Agents: A Review and Assessment of Recent Research

Title:Potential Relevance of Melatonin Against Some Infectious Agents: A Review and Assessment of Recent Research

Volume: 22 Issue: 33

Author(s): Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy, Javier Ortega Luque, Abdelkarim Saleh Aloweidi, Jose Gutierrez -Fernandez, Antonio Sampedro-Martinez, Javier Rodriguez-Granger, Abdullah Kaki and Ahmad Agil

Affiliation:

Keywords: Bacterial and viral infection, immune system modulation, ion fluxes, melatonin, parasite, therapeutic effects.

Abstract: Melatonin, a tryptophan-derived neurohormone found in animals, plants, and microbes, participates in various biological and physiological functions. Among other properties, numerous in vitro or in vivo studies have reported its therapeutic potential against many parasites, bacteria and viruses. In this concern, melatonin was found to be effective against many parasites such as Plasmodium, Toxoplasma gondii, and Trypansoma cruzi, via various mechanisms such as modulation of calcium level and/or host immune system. Likewise, a recent investigation has reported in vitro activity of melatonin against Leishmania infantum promastigotes which is the causative agent of fascinating visceral Leishmaniasis. This review was initially undertaken to summarize some facts about certain physiological and therapeutic effects of melatonin. It also reviews the effects and action mechanisms of melatonin in bacterial and viral infection besides biology of different parasites which may provide a promising strategy for control of many diseases of public health importance.

Cite this article as:

Elmahallawy Kotb Ehab, Luque Ortega Javier, Aloweidi Saleh Abdelkarim, Gutierrez -Fernandez Jose, Sampedro-Martinez Antonio, Rodriguez-Granger Javier, Kaki Abdullah and Agil Ahmad, Potential Relevance of Melatonin Against Some Infectious Agents: A Review and Assessment of Recent Research, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 22 (33) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867322666150827093730