Melatonin in Endometriosis: Mechanistic Understanding and Clinical Insight

Yiran Li, Sze Wan Hung, Ruizhe Zhang, Gene Chi Wai Man, Tao Zhang, Jacqueline Pui-Wah Chung, Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Lanlan Fang, Chi Chiu Wang
Nutrients · 2022 · vol. 14(19) , pp. 4087 · doi:10.3390/nu14194087 · PMID:36235740 · W4303962294
review OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 15 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This review summarizes melatonin's metabolism, biological effects, and potential therapeutic benefits for endometriosis by evaluating current in vitro and in vivo findings on its role in the disease's pathophysiology.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is defined as the development of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Pathophysiology of this disease includes abnormal hormone profiles, cell survival, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, immunology, and inflammation. Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone that is synthesized and released primarily at night from the mammalian pineal gland. Increasing evidence has revealed that melatonin can be synthesized and secreted from multiple extra-pineal tissues where it regulates immune response, inflammation, and angiogenesis locally. Melatonin receptors are expressed in the uterus, and the therapeutic effects of melatonin on endometriosis and other reproductive disorders have been reported. In this review, key information related to the metabolism of melatonin and its biological effects is summarized. Furthermore, the latest in vitro and in vivo findings are highlighted to evaluate the pleiotropic functions of melatonin, as well as to summarize its physiological and pathological effects and treatment potential in endometriosis. Moreover, the pharmacological and therapeutic benefits derived from the administration of exogenous melatonin on reproductive system-related disease are discussed to support the potential of melatonin supplements toward the development of endometriosis. More clinical trials are needed to confirm its therapeutic effects and safety.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Melatonin Melatonin Melatonin Melatonin Melatonin

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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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