Submit

Login Login

Register Register

Home / Journals / BIOCELL / Online First / doi:10.32604/biocell.2025.072557
Journal Menu
Special Issues
Table of Content

All issues

Online First

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

SAIB Annual Meetings

Open Access

REVIEW

Melatonin as a Neuroprotective Agent in Ischemic Stroke: Mechanistic Insights Centralizing Mitochondria as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Mayuri Shukla1, Soraya Boonmag2, Parichart Boontem1, Piyarat Govitrapong1,*
1 Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, Lak Si, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
2 Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
* Corresponding Author: Piyarat Govitrapong. Email: email
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Melatonin and Mitochondria: Exploring New Frontiers)

BIOCELL https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2025.072557

Received 29 August 2025; Accepted 29 October 2025; Published online 21 November 2025

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is one of the major causes of long-term disability and mortality worldwide. It results from an interruption in the cerebral blood flow, triggering a cascade of detrimental events like oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, and apoptosis, causing neuronal injury and cellular death. Melatonin, a pleiotropic indoleamine produced by the pineal gland, has multifaceted neuroprotective effects on stroke pathophysiology. Interestingly, the serum melatonin levels are associated with peroxidation and antioxidant status, along with mortality score in patients with severe middle cerebral artery infarction. Melatonin exhibits strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties and preserves mitochondrial function and homeostasis. Several preclinical studies have shown that melatonin administration conserves blood-brain barrier integrity, reduces infarct size, and edema. These mechanisms contribute to minimizing tissue damage and improving the neurological outcomes following ischemic events. Therefore, the present review evaluates evidence from experimental studies furthered with limited clinical investigations and explores the mechanistic pathways of melatonin functions to establish its therapeutic potential in stroke management.

Keywords

Ischemic stroke; neuroinflammation; neurodegeneration; mitochondrial dysfunction; melatonin; neuroprotection

  • 305

    View

  • 144

    Download

  • 1

    Like

Related articles
Copyright© 2025 Tech Science Press
© 1997-2025 TSP (Henderson, USA) unless otherwise stated

Share Link