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Melatonin interferes with COVID-19 at several distinct ROS-related steps.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry
October 1, 2021
Olivia G Camp et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's potential as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19 by examining its ability to counteract oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypoxia caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results Summary

The study found that melatonin inhibits myeloperoxidase (MPO), reducing oxidative stress and improving COVID-19 prognosis by preventing oxygen deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, and sleep disturbances. It also highlighted melatonin's anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective effects.

Population

Patients with COVID-19 (specific demographic details not provided).

Effective Dosage

Not specified.

Duration

Not specified.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (22)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin
decrease
inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, neuroprotection
-
-
has been noted for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective actions
#1
melatonin
neutral
COVID-19
-
-
has been proposed as a safe therapeutic agent for COVID-19
#2
melatonin
decrease
destructive interactions of HOCl with tetrapyrrole rings, oxygen deficiency, hypoxia, vitamin B12 deficiency, NO deficiency, increased oxidative stress, sleep disturbance
-
-
acts to prevent these events
#3
melatonin
increase
COVID-19 prognosis
-
-
improving
#4
neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO)
increase
MPO levels
-
-
is thought to be especially abundant
#5
neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO)
increase
oxidative stress and the pathophysiology of COVID-19
-
-
contributes substantially to
#6
cytokine storm
increase
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
-
-
leads to excessive production and accumulation of
#7
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
increase
clinical signs characteristic of COVID-19
-
-
cause
#8
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
decrease
decreased oxygen saturation
-
-
cause
#9
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
neutral
alteration of hemoglobin properties
-
-
cause
#10
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
decrease
decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability
-
-
cause
#11
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
increase
vasoconstriction
-
-
cause
#12
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
increase
elevated cytokines
-
-
cause
#13
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
increase
cardiac and/or renal injury
-
-
cause
#14
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
increase
enhanced D-dimer
-
-
cause
#15
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
increase
leukocytosis
-
-
cause
#16
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
increase
increased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio
-
-
cause
#17
destructive interactions of HOCl with tetrapyrrole rings
increase
oxygen deficiency and hypoxia
-
-
may contribute to
#18
destructive interactions of HOCl with tetrapyrrole rings
increase
vitamin B12 deficiency
-
-
may contribute to
#19
destructive interactions of HOCl with tetrapyrrole rings
increase
NO deficiency
-
-
may contribute to
#20
destructive interactions of HOCl with tetrapyrrole rings
increase
increased oxidative stress
-
-
may contribute to
#21
destructive interactions of HOCl with tetrapyrrole rings
increase
sleep disturbance
-
-
may contribute to
#22
Abstract

Recent studies have shown a correlation between COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and the distinct, exaggerated immune response titled "cytokine storm". This immune response leads to excessive production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause clinical signs characteristic of COVID-19 such as decreased oxygen saturation, alteration of hemoglobin properties, decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, vasoconstriction, elevated cytokines, cardiac and/or renal injury, enhanced D-dimer, leukocytosis, and an increased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio. Particularly, neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) is thought to be especially abundant and, as a result, contributes substantially to oxidative stress and the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Conversely, melatonin, a potent MPO inhibitor, has been noted for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective actions. Melatonin has been proposed as a safe therapeutic agent for COVID-19 recently, having been given with a US Food and Drug Administration emergency authorized cocktail, REGEN-COV2, for management of COVID-19 progression. This review distinctly highlights both how the destructive interactions of HOCl with tetrapyrrole rings may contribute to oxygen deficiency and hypoxia, vitamin B12 deficiency, NO deficiency, increased oxidative stress, and sleep disturbance, as well as how melatonin acts to prevent these events, thereby improving COVID-19 prognosis.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Anti-Inflammatory AgentsAntioxidantsApoptosisCOVID-19Cytokine Release SyndromeCytokinesHemeproteinsHumansHypochlorous AcidMelatoninNitric OxideOxidation-ReductionOxidative StressPeroxidaseReactive Oxygen SpeciesSARS-CoV-2SleepVitamin B DeficiencyCOVID-19 Drug Treatment
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations31
Citations/Year7.8
Relative Citation Ratio2.60
NIH Percentile81.7%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.24
Normalized Score0.78
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