Use of Melatonin in Oxidative Stress Related Neonatal Diseases

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of perinatal diseases. Exposure to inflammation, infections, or high oxygen concentrations is frequent in preterm infants, who have high free iron levels that enhance toxic radical generation and diminish antioxidant defense. The peculiar susceptibility of newborns to oxidative stress supports the prophylactic use of melatonin in preventing or decreasing oxidative stress-mediated diseases. Melatonin, an effective direct free-radical scavenger, easily diffuses through biological membranes and exerts pleiotropic activity everywhere. Multiple investigations have assessed the effectiveness of melatonin to reduce the “oxygen radical diseases of newborn” including perinatal brain injury, sepsis, chronic lung disease (CLD), and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Further studies are still awaited to test melatonin activity during perinatal period.

The Potential of Sulfated Polysaccharides Isolated from the Brown Seaweed Ecklonia maxima in Cosmetics: Antioxidant, Anti-melanogenesis, and Photoprotective Activities

“…Oxidative stress is an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. It is mainly caused by ROS and could lead to cellular damage [41]. Accumulation of cellular oxidative damage leads to various diseases such as inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and abnormal aging [13].…”

Plasma melatonin levels in patients with diabetic retinopathy secondary to type 2 diabetes

“…Once synthesized, melatonin is released into the blood. Previous studies have shown that melatonin can demonstrate significant immune regulation, anti-tumor, and anti-aging effects and provides protective effects on the brain, heart, liver and other important organs[ 9 ]. Plasma melatonin was reported to be associated with the risk of several diseases.…”

Melatonin promotes potassium deficiency tolerance by regulating HAK1 transporter and its upstream transcription factor NAC71 in wheat

“…MT was first found in 1958 in animal as an important neurohormone; then it has been reported to regulate a series of biological activities including sleep‐wake cycles, mood, sexual behavior, circadian rhythms, and anti‐oxidative activities 8‐10 . MT in plants was initially detected in land plants in 1995 11 . According to the European Community Legislation, MT has been classified by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) as one non‐hazardous substance for use as plant protector and/or biostimulant 12 .…”

“…Among the investigated aspects, the protective action of MT against biotic and abiotic stresses has been researched extensively in plants 11 . MT exerts the protective action by acting as one direct ROS scavenging molecule (a single MT molecule can scavenge up to 10 ROSs) and activating a series of downstream stress‐responsive genes 17‐19 .…”

“…MT exerts the protective action by acting as one direct ROS scavenging molecule (a single MT molecule can scavenge up to 10 ROSs) and activating a series of downstream stress‐responsive genes 17‐19 . Its anti‐stress roles, along with other outstanding functions, have suggested its possible use in actual agricultural management 11 . To our knowledge, however, the effect of MT on DK tolerance and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive in plants, especially in food crops.…”