[Melatonin as a universal modulator of any pathological processes ].

In paper reviewed own and numerous literary data about of universal modulated and limited influences of melatonin, which produced by pineal gland and peripheral tissues cells, on any pathological processes in the cerebral brain and internal organs. Cellular and systemic mechanisms of its protective and modulated properties were observed.

[MELATONIN TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE AND ALLERGIC PATHOLOGY].

Some autoimmune and allergic diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, etc.) are accompanied with disturbances of the natural production of hormone melatonin by pineal gland and peripheral tissues. The administration of melatonin to animals and humans with such pathologies demonstrated showed a protective effect.

[Role of renin-angiotensin system in cardiovascular effects of melatonin].

Pineal hormone melatonin shows therapeutic properties against various kinds of cardiovascular disturbances. The reviewed data show that an important role in the protective effects of melatonin is played by limitation of the renin-angiotensin system activity.

[Melatonin participates in the origin and limitation of bone pathohological processes].

Melatonin, a hormone produced by pineal gland and peripheral tissue cells, controls bone metabolism and is involved in various kinds of the bone pathology through specific receptors. Modern experimental data about its osteogenic activity allow melatonin to be considered as potential drug for treating bone diseases.

[Participation of pineal gland in antistressor activity of adaptogenic drugs].

Chronic stress produces some morphological changes in rats, including thymus weight reduction, adrenal hypertrophy, and peptic ulcers in stomach. Repeated administration of phytoadaptogenic drugs (ginseng and bilobil) decreased these stress-induced disorders. The antistressor activity of drugs was attenuated upon by removal of the pineal gland.

[Influence of melatonin and diclofenac on circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in rats with local inflammatory arthritis].

Inflammatory arthritis is accompanied by disorganization of the circadian rhythm of locomotion in rats. Control saline injections increased the rhythm disturbances. Chronic administration of melatonin (5 mg/kg) attenuated these chronopathological shifts.

[Chronotropic properties of adaptogenic drugs].

Adaptogenic agents of hormonal (melatonin) and plant origin (ginseng and bilobil) produce optimizing effect on circadian rhythm of locomotion and on the temporal dynamics of forced swimming in intact and false-operated rats. Melatonin exhibits the most expressed impact on behavior of animals. After the removal of the pineal gland, these effects of investigated drugs were significantly decreased.

[Melatonin as a drug: present status and perspectives].

Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland and peripheral cells, has very wide spectrum of the pharmacological activity and, as shown by experimental data, may provide universal protection of central nervous system and internal organs from damage. These protective properties of melatonin can be successfully used in therapy of many diseases. However, for some reasons, the use of melatonin in clinical practice is not well founded.

[Comparative study of the influence of melatonin and diclofenac on some hematologic indices of experimental rheumatoid arthritis in rats].

Pineal hormone melatonin (1 and 5 mg/kg) and diclofenac (8 mg/kg) significantly limited hematologic indices of inflammation and immunologic reactivity in rats with experimental adjuvant arthritis. The effect of melatonin was more pronounced than that of diclofenac.

[Anti-inflammatory potential of melatonin].

The summary of anti-inflammatory properties, cellular and systemic mechanisms of action of epiphyseal melatonin is presented. Dual effect of interaction between melatonin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents is discussed with reference to enhancement of their specific activity and prevention of side effects.

[Melatonin as a drug: present-day status and prospects].

Melatonin, which is produced by pineal gland and peripheral tissue cells, has a very wide spectrum of pharmacological activity. Available experimental data show that melatonin can provide universal protection of central nervous system and internal organs from damages. These properties can be successfully used in therapy of many diseases.

[The optimizing influence of melatonin on the behavioral activity of cognitive enhancers].

The pineal hormone melatonin (0.1 mg/kg) differently changed the behavioral shifts induced by piracetam, bilobil, and ginseng in the open-field and elevated plus-maze tests in rats. Melatonin more effectively optimized memory in the model of passive avoidance conditioned reflex.

[Effect of melatonin on the thrombocyte hemostasis and its circadian organization].

Melatonin produced by pineal gland and some peripheral cells effect both spontaneous and induced aggregation of platelets. As a natural inhibitor of aggregation, melatonin limits hemostasis in night hours. A decrease in the plasma level of melatonin in early morning hours is probably responsible for cardiovascular disorders and may be recommended for use in pharmacotherapy.

[Universal therapeutic properties of melatonin].

A review of current data on the therapeutic potential of melatonin for the treatment of various somatic diseases is presented with reference to its biological role and mechanism of protective action. A number of factors and conditions need to be taken into consideration to ensure clinical efficacy of melatonin therapy.

[Complex estimation of the psychotropic activity spectrum of pineal hormone melatonin in young healthy humans].

Effects of the pineal hormone melatonin (melaxen, 1.5 mg, 2 weeks) on a complex of psychophysiological indices have been studied on a group of healthy human volunteers in comparison to placebo. The drug improved the concentration of attention, improved its stability in the presence of visual hindrances, and increased the critical frequency of merging light flashes.

[Pineal hormone melatonin is an universal adaptogenic agent].

Pineal hormone melatonin is an universal chronobiotic with adaptogenic propertied which showed stabilized action on pathologically changed fluctuations of any physiological functions, protects a brain and an internal peripheral tissues from emotional and oxidant stress. It also produced hypnotic and anxiolytic effects, normalised function of cadriovascular system and immunological reactions. These properties can be used for treatment of various psychosomatic diseases.

[Analgesic properties of pineal hormone melatonin].

Melatonin, the main hormone of the pineal gland, possesses analgesic properties, which were observed on various experimental models of pain and in the clinical practice. Such hormonal activity may be based on complex systemic and cellular mechanisms. Taking into account low toxicity of melatonin and its ability to enhance the effect of traditional analgesic agents, it is expedient to undertake broad investigation and testing of the potential of this hormonal preparation under clinical conditions.

[Therapeutic potential of melatonin in oral cavity diseases].

Melatonin produced by the pineal gland and apudocytes of gastro-intestinal tract has high universal therapeutic potential for the treatment of various diseases of oral cavity. These properties can be used in clinical practice.

[Limitation of oxidative stress as the main factor of the universal protective properties of melatonin].

Natural hormone melatonin, which is produced by pineal gland and apudocytes of peripheral tissues, has unique and universal protective features against various cerebral and somatic diseases. Melatonin effects may be based on many factors. On the cellular level, the main role in the therapeutic properties of melatonin is played by the antioxidant activity.

[Protective role of melatonin in pancreatic gland disorders].

Numerous experimantal data show that melatonin secreted by the pineal gland and enterochromaffin cells (apudocites) of the gastrointestinal tract plays an universal protective role in cases of various disorders of the pancreatic gland. In experiments, this hormone restricts the manifestations of acute pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. It is suggested that, after reliable clinical justification, melatonin can probably be used for therapeutic aims.

[Comparative evaluation of epiphyseal melatonin and benzodiazepine anxiolytics].

Hormonal epiphyseal secret melatonin and benzodiazepine anxiolytics possess similar spectra of psychotropic activity. However, melatonin is characterized by less pronounced side effects, which makes it a potential alternative to traditional anxiolytics in clinical practice.

[Melatonin as a universal stabilizing factor of mental activity].

Pineal hormone melatonin stabilizes mental activity of man and animals due to its somnogenic, anxiolytic, antidepressant and nootropic properties. Melatonin effects are based on the synchronization of biological rhythms via the influence on the cerebral structures which control biological rhythms and emotions and normalize endocrine and immune state.

[Pineal hormone melatonin in complex pharmacotherapy of brain and somatic disorders].

Pineal hormone melatonin is a low-toxicity agent that can be used in complex therapy with different kinds of pharmacological agents (neurotropic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, oncostatic, etc.) so as to potentiate their specific activity and attenuate side effects. It is concluded that the use of melatonin as supplement may be recommended in order to optimize the pharmacotherapy of many diseases.