Radiological Pharmacology Drugs: Therapeutic Potential of Melatonin

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to draw attention to Melatonin as a means of radiological pharmacology within the framework of drugs’ reprofiling [13] and the “off-label” strategy (application for medical purposes does not correspond to the instructions for the basic medical use of the drug). Melatonin has, to varying degrees, a dose-dependent antistressor, sedative, hypnogenic, neuroprotective, geroprotective (a general consistent pattern for all geroprotectors – earlier initiation of drug use provides a greater effect), antidepressant, antioxidant, antitumor, antiapoptotic (in normal cells), proapoptotic (in cancer cells), oncostatic, antimetastatic, immunomodulatory, radioprotective, radiosensitizing, anti-infectious, analgesic, hepatoprotective geroprotective, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, moderate contraceptive (for women) action. Melatonin regulates neuroendocrine functions, respiratory rate, reproductive function, osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, formation and protection of bones; modulates the activity of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts; reduces pain sensitivity; affects the intracellular calcium content. The antioxidant properties of Melatonin are closely related to its antitumor effect. Studies have demonstrated that melatonin has a self-sufficient oncostatic effect in cancer of the breast, ovaries, endometrium, pancreas, prostate, lungs; melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, glioblastoma, and leiomyosarcoma. Key words: pineal gland, melatonin, radioprotector, radiological pharmacology.