Melatonin: functions and ligands
September 2014
in “Drug discovery today”
TLDR Melatonin helps regulate sleep and may aid in treating various health issues.
Melatonin, synthesized in various body locations and regulated by light conditions, acted as a chronobiotic stabilizing bodily rhythms. Known as the 'hormone of darkness,' it played roles in managing depression, insomnia, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, obesity, alopecia, migraine, cancer, and immune and cardiac disorders. The review discussed melatonin's mechanisms of action in these conditions, aiding in the design of new receptor ligands.
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