Melatonin: Adjunct therapeutics in ovarian endometrioma

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) hormone is a methoxyindole primarily released by the pineal gland. Melatonin has dynamicproperties of being a free radical scavenger, inflammatory suppressor, anti-apoptotic agent, reproductive hormone modulator andmediator of several signaling pathways in female reproductive system. The presence of differential localization of melatonin receptorsin the ovary, influence on the ovarian hormones and ovarian cycle has implied the association between ovarian system and melatoninboth at the pathological and physiological levels. On the other hand, the pathophysiology of ovarian endometrioma is remarked byvarious anomalies likely: generation of various reactive oxygen species, followed by follicular damage, oocyte and embryonic defects,inflammation and apoptosis, which the involvement of melatonin can plausibly counteract. The present review evaluated melatonin’sprobable protective role against ovarian endometrioma via diverse signaling pathways.