Does melatonin as an antioxidant and anticancer agent potentiate the efficacy of curcumin?

Abstract

Melatonin is a hormone that exhibits many bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, and anti-aging activity. In addition, melatonin has been used to strengthen the effect of drugs or agents used for treatment in many different disease models such as cancer, tumor, bacterial infection, autoimmune diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. According to recent studies, curcumin is used as a pigment and powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with therapeutic potential against various cancers. Melatonin and curcumin have been used in different models of disease or injury: such as Alzheimer's disease treatment, testicular tissue preservation, bladder cancer treatment, gastric mucosal damage, and prevention of nephrotoxicity. This review covers published literature studies on the effects of comparison or combined use of melatonin and curcumin as anticancer and antioxidant agents and it reveals whether melatonin potentiates the effect of curcumin when used together.