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. 2021 May 22;22(11):5481. doi: 10.3390/ijms22115481

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Melatonin and the Molecular Mechanisms of Action. (1) Melatonin and its metabolites; 3-hydroxymelatonin (3OHM), N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK) form a potent free radical scavenging artillery that removes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals produced following hypoxia-ischaemia. (2) Melatonin inhibits pro-apoptotic proteins (BAX), prevents the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and inhibits the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-dependent cell death pathway. (3) Melatonin exhibits anti-inflammatory properties through the inhibition of nitrogen oxide synthase and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression thereby suppressing inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. (4) Melatonin also acts through receptors (MT1, MT2, MT3) to regulate a diverse range of downstream targets contributing to neuroprotection.