title: Melatonin as a neuroprotective agent in the rodent models of Parkinson's disease: is it all set to irrefutable clinical translation?
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the selective degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, continuing or permanent deficiency of dopamine, accretion of an abnormal form of alpha synuclein in the adjacent neurons, and dysregulation of ubiquitin proteasomal system, mitochondrial metabolism, permeability and integrity, and cellular apoptosis resulting in rigidity, bradykinesia, resting tremor, and postural instability. Melatonin, an indoleamine produced almost in all the organisms, has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-oxidant nature. Experimental studies employing 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), methamphetamine, rotenone, and maneb and paraquat models have shown an enormous potential of melatonin in amelioration of the symptomatic features of PD. Although a few reviews published previously have described the multifaceted efficacy of melatonin against MPTP and 6-OHDA rodent models, due to development and validation of the newer models as well as the extensive studies on the usage of melatonin in entrenched PD models, it is worthwhile to bring up to date note on the usage of melatonin as a neuroprotective agent in PD. This article presents an update on the usage and applications of melatonin in PD models along with incongruous observations. The impending implications in the clinics, success, limitations, and future prospective have also been discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Post Box 80, Lucknow 226 001 UP, India.
authors.forename: Naveen Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Swatantra Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Mahendra Pratap
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012377:Rodentia; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008550:Melatonin