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

Sharifi M, Mehran Sharifi, Rajabpoor Nikoo N, Nesa Rajabpoor Nikoo, Badehnoosh B, Bita Badehnoosh, Rana Shafabakhsh, Shafabakhsh R, Asemi R, Reza Asemi, Russel J Reiter, Rüssel J. Reiter, Reiter RJ, Asemi Z, Zatollah Asemi
Pathology, research and practice · 2023 · vol. 243 , pp. 154368 · doi:10.1016/j.prp.2023.154368 · PMID:36774757 · W4319770541
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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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Abstract

Endometriosis, the very serious disease in women creates a huge financial burden worldwide, which is comparable to diabetes mellitus. In addition to the typical pelvic pain, endometriosis is related to low life quality and decreased work efficiency; clinical consequences include mood complaints, metabolic impairments, inflammation, immunologic problems, and elevated malignancy risks. Several risk factors are correlated with endometriosis including elevated oxidative and nitrosative stress, long-lasting inflammation, raised immune tolerance, as well as autoimmunity. Melatonin is a natural molecule present throughout both the plant and animal kingdoms. It has numerous functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Due to the anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-invasive features of melatonin, it performances as a beneficial agent to limit endometriosis; this involves several pathways including antiestrogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis effects, as well as reducing the growth of E2-induced endometriotic tissue. Moreover, melatonin can favor sleep quality and decrease the unwanted signs in the patients. However, most of the data on melatonin accured from experimental works and additional clinical trials are needed. This review summarizes what is currently known regarding the influence of melatonin on endometriosis. AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIAL: Not applicable.

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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

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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