Year: 2024 | Month: July-September | Volume: 9 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 428-460
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20240351
Melatonin as a Treatment Option for Bacterial Meningitis – A Comprehensive Review
Priyanka Tanwar1, Mamta Naagar2, Manish Kumar Maity3
1Department of Pharmacology, Bhagvan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Sonipat-131030, Haryana, India
2Department of Pharmacy Practice, MM College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be university), Mullana-133207, Ambala, Haryana, India
Corresponding Author: Priyanka Tanwar
ABSTRACT
Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a global acute infectious central nervous system (CNS) illness that leaves 50% of survivors with long-term significant consequences. Acute bacterial meningitis is more common in low-resource areas than in high-resource areas. Bacterial survival and multiplication in the circulation, increased permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB), oxidative stress, and an overactive inflammatory response in the CNS are all involved in the pathogenesis of BM. Because drug-resistant bacteria make treatment for meningitis more difficult, the vaccination has been confined to a few serotypes, and the BM morbidity rate remains high. With recent advances in neurology, there is hope for medication supplements that can successfully prevent and cure BM. Several in vivo and in vitro researches have been conducted to better understand how melatonin affects BM. Melatonin is primarily produced in the pineal gland and has the ability to cross the BBB. Melatonin and its metabolite have been found to be efficient antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, suggesting that they might be used to prevent and treat BM. Melatonin can protect the brain against bacterial meningitis through a variety of mechanisms, including immunological response, antibacterial capabilities, BBB integrity protection, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammation, signalling pathways, and gut microbiota. This paper highlights melatonin's primary neuroprotective processes and investigates prospective preventative and therapy strategies for BM nerve damage.
Keywords: Bacterial Meningitis, Neuron Injury, Melatonin, Neuroprotection