Open Access

A mid‑pandemic night's dream: Melatonin, from harbinger of anti‑inflammation to mitochondrial savior in acute and long COVID‑19 (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Ioannis G. Lempesis
    • Vasiliki Epameinondas Georgakopoulou
    • Russel J. Reiter
    • Demetrios A. Spandidos
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 26, 2024     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5352
  • Article Number: 28
  • Copyright: © Lempesis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), a systemic illness caused by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), has triggered a worldwide pandemic with symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to chronic, affecting practically every organ. Melatonin, an ancient antioxidant found in all living organisms, has been suggested as a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of SARS‑CoV‑2 infection due to its good safety characteristics and broad‑spectrum antiviral medication properties. Melatonin is essential in various metabolic pathways and governs physiological processes, such as the sleep‑wake cycle and circadian rhythms. It exhibits oncostatic, anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant and anti‑aging properties, exhibiting promise for use in the treatment of numerous disorders, including COVID‑19. The preventive and therapeutic effects of melatonin have been widely explored in a number of conditions and have been well‑established in experimental ischemia/reperfusion investigations, particularly in coronary heart disease and stroke. Clinical research evaluating the use of melatonin in COVID‑19 has shown various improved outcomes, including reduced hospitalization durations; however, the trials are small. Melatonin can alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction in COVID‑19, improve immune cell function and provide antioxidant properties. However, its therapeutic potential remains underexplored due to funding limitations and thus further investigations are required.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

March-2024
Volume 53 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Lempesis IG, Georgakopoulou VE, Reiter RJ and Spandidos DA: A mid‑pandemic night's dream: Melatonin, from harbinger of anti‑inflammation to mitochondrial savior in acute and long COVID‑19 (Review). Int J Mol Med 53: 28, 2024.
APA
Lempesis, I.G., Georgakopoulou, V.E., Reiter, R.J., & Spandidos, D.A. (2024). A mid‑pandemic night's dream: Melatonin, from harbinger of anti‑inflammation to mitochondrial savior in acute and long COVID‑19 (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 53, 28. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5352
MLA
Lempesis, I. G., Georgakopoulou, V. E., Reiter, R. J., Spandidos, D. A."A mid‑pandemic night's dream: Melatonin, from harbinger of anti‑inflammation to mitochondrial savior in acute and long COVID‑19 (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 53.3 (2024): 28.
Chicago
Lempesis, I. G., Georgakopoulou, V. E., Reiter, R. J., Spandidos, D. A."A mid‑pandemic night's dream: Melatonin, from harbinger of anti‑inflammation to mitochondrial savior in acute and long COVID‑19 (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 53, no. 3 (2024): 28. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5352