Melatonin Potentially Acts as a Widely-Acting Protective Tool in COVID-19

doi:10.21127/yaoyimr20240006

Abstract

Abstract: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2. It has resulted in a very large number of infected individuals and numerous deaths. Given the faster mutation rate of this RNA virus exceeds the time required for the development of vaccines, effective drugs for COVID-19 prevention and treatment should be urgently identified to terminate the pandemic. Functioning as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune regulator, melatonin is a promising drug as a treatment for COVID-19. This review presents studies on the prophylaxis, therapeutic, and recovery roles of melatonin for this disease. Melatonin remarkably boosts the resistance to COVID-19 by strengthening the immune system, acting as a vaccine adjuvant, and improving sleep. Melatonin has been suggested as a treatment for COVID-19 since it preserves mitochondrial physiology, reduces the consequences of comorbidities, and suppresses excessive inflammation, oxidation, and exaggerated immune response resulting from COVID-19 pathology. Since the sequelae of COVID-19 are also a major health concern worldwide apart from COVID-19 per se, melatonin has been suggested as a potential drug in the treatment of neurological symptoms observed in “LONG COVID”. Collectively, these beneficial effects highlight the role of melatonin as a potential alternative drug for the better management of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Key words: melatonin, inflammation, SARS-CoV-2, LONG COVID, comorbidities

Er-Qiang Zhao, Wen-Xiu Lu, En-Da Sun, Zong-Min Mou and Da-Ke Zhao. Melatonin Potentially Acts as a Widely-Acting Protective Tool in COVID-19[J]. Medicine Research, DOI: 10.21127/yaoyimr20240006.

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