title: A review of the protective effect of melatonin in pesticide-induced toxicity.
abstract: Pesticides are among the most important chemicals used in agriculture sector. However, their extensive use has polluted the environment and increased human vulnerability to various chronic diseases. Pesticide exposure causes genetic and epigenetic modifications, endocrine disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Areas covered: This review is based on the literature studies currently reported on pesticide-induced toxicity and the protective role of melatonin. Scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched using keywords 'pesticide' and 'melatonin' up to January 2016. Full length articles related to animal and human exposure were retrieved. A total number of 181 records were obtained, and after excluding the duplicates, 97 papers were further screened on the basis of relevance to the topic. Expert opinion: Melatonin as a broad-spectrum antioxidant is able to penetrate cellular compartments specifically the mitochondria. It is a potent free radical scavenger with low toxicity and desirable solubility in organic and aqueous phases. We are of the opinion that melatonin is a promising agent in minimizing organ injuries induced by pesticides.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine , Babol University of Medical Sciences , Babol , Iran.|b Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Asghari
authors.affiliation: c Young Researchers and Elite Club, Urmia Branch , Islamic Azad University , Urmia , Iran.
authors.forename: Milad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moloudizargari
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pharmacy , Kohat University of Science and Technology , Kohat , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Haji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahadar
authors.affiliation: b Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010575:Pesticides; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Pesticide; mechanism of toxicity; melatonin; oxidative stress; review