A review of the protective effect of melatonin in pesticide-induced toxicity

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pesticides are among the most important chemicals used in agriculture sector. However, their extensive use has polluted the environment and increased human vulnerability to various chronic diseases. Pesticide exposure causes genetic and epigenetic modifications, endocrine disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Areas covered: This review is based on the literature studies currently reported on pesticide-induced toxicity and the protective role of melatonin. Scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched using keywords ‘pesticide’ and ‘melatonin’ up to January 2016. Full length articles related to animal and human exposure were retrieved. A total number of 181 records were obtained, and after excluding the duplicates, 97 papers were further screened on the basis of relevance to the topic.

Expert opinion: Melatonin as a broad-spectrum antioxidant is able to penetrate cellular compartments specifically the mitochondria. It is a potent free radical scavenger with low toxicity and desirable solubility in organic and aqueous phases. We are of the opinion that melatonin is a promising agent in minimizing organ injuries induced by pesticides.

KEYWORDS:

• Pesticide
• mechanism of toxicity
• melatonin
• oxidative stress
• review

Article highlights

• The present review is probably the first inclusive study on the protective effects of melatonin against a range of pesticide-induced toxicities.

• This paper includes substantial data on a range of different types of commonly used pesticides rather than focusing only on one pesticide, making it more inclusive.

• The mechanism of toxicity has been investigated separately in different organs where necessary.

• Pharmacokinetics of exogenous melatonin has been reviewed.

• The mechanisms through which melatonin exerts its protective effects have been shown in each case.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their thanks to the Iranian National Science Foundation (INSF).

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.