Melatonin as a Possible Chronobiotic/Cytoprotective Therapy in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract

Melatonin is a molecule exhibiting various potentially useful pharmacological properties. As a chronobiotic, the late afternoon/nocturnal pineal melatonin surge helps to entrain the central circadian pacemaker located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei as well as myriads of peripheral cellular circadian clocks. As a cytoprotector, melatonin is a very effective agent to control inflammation via the buffering of free radicals and downregulation of proinflammatory signals among other effects. Melatonin is a phylogenetically conserved signal found in most cells since the beginning of aerobic respiration. In this chapter we discuss the possibility of using melatonin as a safe drug for treating polycystic ovarian syndrome.