Therapeutic effects of melatonin on endometriosis, targeting molecular pathways: Current knowledge and future perspective

Mehran Sharifi; Nesa Rajabpoor Nikoo; Bita Badehnoosh; Rana Shafabakhsh; Reza Asemi; Russel J Reiter; Rüssel J. Reiter; Zatollah Asemi

doi:10.1016/j.prp.2023.154368

Therapeutic effects of melatonin on endometriosis, targeting molecular pathways: Current knowledge and future perspective

Mehran Sharifi, Nesa Rajabpoor Nikoo, Bita Badehnoosh, Rana Shafabakhsh, Reza Asemi, Russel J Reiter, Rüssel J. Reiter, Zatollah Asemi

Pathology, research and practice · 2023 · vol. 243 , pp. 154368 · doi:10.1016/j.prp.2023.154368 · PMID:36774757 · W4319770541

review OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 5 in-corpus citations

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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This review synthesizes current knowledge on melatonin's therapeutic potential for endometriosis by examining its effects on relevant molecular pathways and outlining future research directions.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis

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References (100)

Alteration of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells, Chronic Inflammatory Cytokines, and Exosomal miRNA Contribute to the Peritoneal Immune Disorder of Patients With Endometriosis via openalex
A new isoform of steroid receptor coactivator-1 is crucial for pathogenic progression of endometriosis via openalex
Aromatase expression in endometriotic tissues and cell cultures of patients with endometriosis via openalex
BDNF and TrKB expression levels in patients with endometriosis and their associations with dysmenorrhoea via openalex
Clinical diagnosis of endometriosis: a call to action via openalex
Combination of 17β-estradiol with the environmental pollutant TCDD is involved in pathogenesis of endometriosis via up-regulating the chemokine I-309–CCR8 via openalex
Dendritic cell populations in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis via openalex
Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin supplementation on endometrial explants in a rat model via openalex
Efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of endometriosis: A phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial via openalex
Elagolix in endometriosis via openalex
Endometriosis via openalex
Endometriosis via openalex
Endometriosis, a disease of the macrophage via openalex
Endometriosis: A Disease That Remains Enigmatic via openalex
Endometriosis, a modern syndrome. via openalex
Endometriosis and Medical Therapy: From Progestogens to Progesterone Resistance to GnRH Antagonists: A Review via openalex
Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications via openalex
Endometriosis Pathoetiology and Pathophysiology: Roles of Vitamin A, Estrogen, Immunity, Adipocytes, Gut Microbiome and Melatonergic Pathway on Mitochondria Regulation via openalex
Evaluation of melatonin effect on pelvic pain in women with endometriosis referred to affiliated hospitals to Tehran Medical Sciences of Islamic Azad University via openalex
Exposure‐Safety Analyses Identify Predictors of Change in Bone Mineral Density and Support Elagolix Labeling for Endometriosis‐Associated Pain via openalex
Expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 is upregulated in endometriosis and promoted by 17beta-estradiol via openalex
Gastrointestinal and Urinary Tract Endometriosis: A Review on the Commonest Locations of Extrapelvic Endometriosis via openalex
Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis Predicts an Epigenetic Switch for GATA Factor Expression in Endometriosis via openalex
Immune-inflammation gene signatures in endometriosis patients via openalex
Lipopolysaccharide promotes the development of murine endometriosis‐like lesions via the nuclear factor‐kappa B pathway via openalex
Measured symptomatic and psychological outcomes in women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis via openalex
Mechanisms of endometrial progesterone resistance via openalex
Melatonin activity and receptor expression in endometrial tissue and endometriosis via openalex
Melatonin causes regression of endometriotic implants in rats by modulating angiogenesis, tissue levels of antioxidants and matrix metalloproteinases via openalex
Melatonin inhibits 17β-estradiol-induced migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in normal and endometriotic endometrial epithelial cells via openalex
Melatonin Promotes Uterine and Placental Health: Potential Molecular Mechanisms via openalex
Mitochondria and oxidative stress in ovarian endometriosis via openalex
Mitochondrial translocation of estrogen receptor β affords resistance to oxidative insult-induced apoptosis and contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis via openalex
Oxidative stress and peritoneal endometriosis via openalex
Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis via openalex
Pathogenesis of endometriosis based on endometrial homeoplasia, direct extension, exfoliation and implantation, lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis.Including five case reports of endometrial tissue in pelvic lymph nodes via openalex
Pathogenesis of endometriosis: natural immunity dysfunction or autoimmune disease? via openalex
Platelet-derived TGF-β1 mediates the down-modulation of NKG2D expression and may be responsible for impaired natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity in women with endometriosis via openalex
Prostaglandin E2 Stimulates Aromatase Expression in Endometriosis-Derived Stromal Cells via openalex
Regression of endometrial explants in a rat model of endometriosis treated with melatonin via openalex
Regulation of Inflammation Pathways and Inflammasome by Sex Steroid Hormones in Endometriosis via openalex
Reprint of: Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: a multicenter study across ten countries via openalex
Reprint of: Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis via openalex
Role of melatonin in regulating matrix metalloproteinase‐9 via tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase‐1 during protection against endometriosis via openalex
Shift Work, hCLOCK T3111C Polymorphism, and Endometriosis Risk via openalex
Surgical removal of superficial peritoneal endometriosis for managing women with chronic pelvic pain: time for a rethink? via openalex
Symptomatic endometriosis developing several years after menopause in the absence of increased circulating estrogen concentrations: a systematic review and seven case reports via openalex
The burden of endometriosis: costs and quality of life of women with endometriosis and treated in referral centres via openalex
The crosstalk between endometrial stromal cells and macrophages impairs cytotoxicity of NK cells in endometriosis by secreting IL-10 and TGF-β via openalex
The effects of different doses of melatonin treatment on endometrial implants in an oophorectomized rat endometriosis model via openalex
The effects of letrozole and melatonin on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model: a preliminary study via openalex
The effects of melatonin on endometriotic lesions induced by implanting human endometriotic cells in the first SCID-mouse endometriosis-model developed in Turkey via openalex
The Origin and Pathogenesis of Endometriosis via openalex
The role of inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in the pathophysiology of endometriosis: Basic science and new insights based on gene expression via openalex
The Role of the Lymphatic System in Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature1 via openalex
The significant effect of endometriosis on physical, mental and social wellbeing: results from an international cross-sectional survey via openalex
[The statement of Polish Society's Experts Group concerning diagnostics and methods of endometriosis treatment]. via openalex
Transactivation of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein in Human Endometriotic Stromal Cells Is Mediated by the Prostaglandin EP2 Receptor via openalex
Treatment of Endometriosis-Associated Pain with Elagolix, an Oral GnRH Antagonist via openalex
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Cited by (5)

Source provenance

europepmc: last seen: 2026-06-12T06:13:51.797165+00:00
openalex: last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed: last seen: 2026-06-04T00:34:07.146298+00:00

License: CC0 · commercial use OK

[1] Alteration of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells, Chronic Inflammatory Cytokines, and Exosomal miRNA Contribute to the Peritoneal Immune Disorder of Patients With Endometriosis via openalex

[2] A new isoform of steroid receptor coactivator-1 is crucial for pathogenic progression of endometriosis via openalex

[3] Aromatase expression in endometriotic tissues and cell cultures of patients with endometriosis via openalex

[4] BDNF and TrKB expression levels in patients with endometriosis and their associations with dysmenorrhoea via openalex

[5] Clinical diagnosis of endometriosis: a call to action via openalex

[6] Combination of 17β-estradiol with the environmental pollutant TCDD is involved in pathogenesis of endometriosis via up-regulating the chemokine I-309–CCR8 via openalex

[7] Dendritic cell populations in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis via openalex

[8] Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin supplementation on endometrial explants in a rat model via openalex

[9] Efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of endometriosis: A phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial via openalex

[10] Elagolix in endometriosis via openalex

[11] Endometriosis via openalex

[12] Endometriosis via openalex

[13] Endometriosis, a disease of the macrophage via openalex

[14] Endometriosis: A Disease That Remains Enigmatic via openalex

[15] Endometriosis, a modern syndrome. via openalex

[16] Endometriosis and Medical Therapy: From Progestogens to Progesterone Resistance to GnRH Antagonists: A Review via openalex

[17] Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications via openalex

[18] Endometriosis Pathoetiology and Pathophysiology: Roles of Vitamin A, Estrogen, Immunity, Adipocytes, Gut Microbiome and Melatonergic Pathway on Mitochondria Regulation via openalex

[19] Evaluation of melatonin effect on pelvic pain in women with endometriosis referred to affiliated hospitals to Tehran Medical Sciences of Islamic Azad University via openalex

[20] Exposure‐Safety Analyses Identify Predictors of Change in Bone Mineral Density and Support Elagolix Labeling for Endometriosis‐Associated Pain via openalex

[21] Expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 is upregulated in endometriosis and promoted by 17beta-estradiol via openalex

[22] Gastrointestinal and Urinary Tract Endometriosis: A Review on the Commonest Locations of Extrapelvic Endometriosis via openalex

[23] Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis Predicts an Epigenetic Switch for GATA Factor Expression in Endometriosis via openalex

[24] Immune-inflammation gene signatures in endometriosis patients via openalex

[25] Lipopolysaccharide promotes the development of murine endometriosis‐like lesions via the nuclear factor‐kappa B pathway via openalex

[26] Measured symptomatic and psychological outcomes in women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis via openalex

[27] Mechanisms of endometrial progesterone resistance via openalex

[28] Melatonin activity and receptor expression in endometrial tissue and endometriosis via openalex

[29] Melatonin causes regression of endometriotic implants in rats by modulating angiogenesis, tissue levels of antioxidants and matrix metalloproteinases via openalex

[30] Melatonin inhibits 17β-estradiol-induced migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in normal and endometriotic endometrial epithelial cells via openalex

[31] Melatonin Promotes Uterine and Placental Health: Potential Molecular Mechanisms via openalex

[32] Mitochondria and oxidative stress in ovarian endometriosis via openalex

[33] Mitochondrial translocation of estrogen receptor β affords resistance to oxidative insult-induced apoptosis and contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis via openalex

[34] Oxidative stress and peritoneal endometriosis via openalex

[35] Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis via openalex

[36] Pathogenesis of endometriosis based on endometrial homeoplasia, direct extension, exfoliation and implantation, lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis.Including five case reports of endometrial tissue in pelvic lymph nodes via openalex

[37] Pathogenesis of endometriosis: natural immunity dysfunction or autoimmune disease? via openalex

[38] Platelet-derived TGF-β1 mediates the down-modulation of NKG2D expression and may be responsible for impaired natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity in women with endometriosis via openalex

[39] Prostaglandin E2 Stimulates Aromatase Expression in Endometriosis-Derived Stromal Cells via openalex

[40] Regression of endometrial explants in a rat model of endometriosis treated with melatonin via openalex

[41] Regulation of Inflammation Pathways and Inflammasome by Sex Steroid Hormones in Endometriosis via openalex

[42] Reprint of: Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: a multicenter study across ten countries via openalex

[43] Reprint of: Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis via openalex

[44] Role of melatonin in regulating matrix metalloproteinase‐9 via tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase‐1 during protection against endometriosis via openalex

[45] Shift Work, hCLOCK T3111C Polymorphism, and Endometriosis Risk via openalex

[46] Surgical removal of superficial peritoneal endometriosis for managing women with chronic pelvic pain: time for a rethink? via openalex

[47] Symptomatic endometriosis developing several years after menopause in the absence of increased circulating estrogen concentrations: a systematic review and seven case reports via openalex

[48] The burden of endometriosis: costs and quality of life of women with endometriosis and treated in referral centres via openalex

[49] The crosstalk between endometrial stromal cells and macrophages impairs cytotoxicity of NK cells in endometriosis by secreting IL-10 and TGF-β via openalex

[50] The effects of different doses of melatonin treatment on endometrial implants in an oophorectomized rat endometriosis model via openalex

[51] The effects of letrozole and melatonin on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model: a preliminary study via openalex

[52] The effects of melatonin on endometriotic lesions induced by implanting human endometriotic cells in the first SCID-mouse endometriosis-model developed in Turkey via openalex

[53] The Origin and Pathogenesis of Endometriosis via openalex

[54] The role of inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in the pathophysiology of endometriosis: Basic science and new insights based on gene expression via openalex

[55] The Role of the Lymphatic System in Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature1 via openalex

[56] The significant effect of endometriosis on physical, mental and social wellbeing: results from an international cross-sectional survey via openalex

[57] [The statement of Polish Society's Experts Group concerning diagnostics and methods of endometriosis treatment]. via openalex

[58] Transactivation of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein in Human Endometriotic Stromal Cells Is Mediated by the Prostaglandin EP2 Receptor via openalex

[59] Treatment of Endometriosis-Associated Pain with Elagolix, an Oral GnRH Antagonist via openalex

[60] W6771428075 via openalex

[61] W6779373334 via openalex

[62] W6791295153 via openalex

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[64] W425981575 via openalex

[65] W6847405456 via openalex

[66] W978459137 via openalex

[67] W1962964894 via openalex

[68] W1966664158 via openalex

[69] W1972563403 via openalex

[70] W1987628800 via openalex

[71] W1994746461 via openalex

[72] W1996123579 via openalex

[73] W2007049603 via openalex

[74] W2010311608 via openalex

[75] W2012282709 via openalex

[76] W2030335563 via openalex

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