Melatonin: a pleiotropic hormone as a novel potent therapeutic candidate in arsenic toxicity.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's potential as a therapeutic agent to mitigate arsenic-induced toxicity by reducing oxidative stress and protecting cellular components.
Results Summary
Melatonin was found to be a potent antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress, protects mitochondria, prevents cellular damage, and normalizes homeostasis, thereby counteracting arsenic toxicity.
Population
Not specified (general human toxicity context)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin supplementation therapy | decrease | arsenic toxicity | - | - | seems to be a suitable therapeutic agent to eliminate the adverse effects | #1 |
chronic exposure to arsenic | decrease | organs | humans | - | could cause serious dys functions of organs and induce different degrees of toxicities | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | free radical | - | - | is a powerful scavenger for free radical and it's an extensive-spectrum antioxidant | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | protein, DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation | - | - | prevents protein, DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | oxidative stress in mitochondria, homeostasis, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, cell death | - | - | protecting and reducing oxidative stress in mitochondria, can normalize homeostasis and mitochondrial function and ultimately prevent apoptosis and cell death | #5 |
BACKGROUND: Arsenic is a natural element which exists in the environment in inorganic and organic forms. In humans, the main reason for the toxicity of arsenic is its uptake via water sources. As polluted water and the problems associated with it can be found in many countries. Therefore, considering all these positive effects of melatonin, this review is aimed at melatonin supplementation therapy on arsenic toxicity which seems to be a suitable therapeutic agent to eliminate the adverse effects of arsenic. METHODS AND RESULTS: It is seen in previous studies that chronic exposure to arsenic could cause serious dys functions of organs and induce different degrees of toxicities that is one of the first hazardous materials in the classification of substances by the United States Environmental Protection Agency so leads to costly cleanup operations burdening the economy. Arsenic harmfulness degree depends on the bioavailability, chemical form, valence state, detoxification, and metabolism of human body. The oxidative stress has a major role in arsenic-induced toxicity; on the other hand, it was discovered that melatonin is a powerful scavenger for free radical and it's an extensive-spectrum antioxidant. CONCLUSION: Due to its highly lipophilic and small size properties, melatonin accesses all intracellular organs by easily passing via the cell membrane and prevents protein, DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation. In particular, melatonin, by protecting and reducing oxidative stress in mitochondria, can normalize homeostasis and mitochondrial function and ultimately prevent apoptosis and cell death.