Melatonin - marvel in the making?

© 2016 Indian Journal of Anaesthesia | Published by Wolters Kluwer Medknow Ever since Aaron Bunsen Lerner isolated melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) from pineal glands of cattle in 1958, the hormone has been found to have several uses in humans. Endogenous melatonin is well recognised for its role in regulation of the circadian rhythm.[1] Exogenous melatonin has been studied for various indications in anaesthesia such as hypnosis, anxiolysis, sedation and analgesia. It has also been used effectively for the prevention of emergence agitation and delirium in postoperative as well as intensive care unit patients. Melatonin’s antioxidative, immunomodulatory and cardioprotective properties have found utility in a variety of surgical procedures such as organ transplantation, liver resection and cardiovascular surgery.[2-5]