Melatonin is a hormone produced by the Pineal Gland and its main activity is to regulate the sleep-wake rhythm. According to scientific studies PNEI this hormone also performs other important functions and it is reductive to think only of its function on sleep. Various studies have shown that Melatonin influences various biological processes. The presence of Melatonin receptors on certain tissues, such as lymph nodes, thymus and spleen, indicates that it is involved in various immunological processes.

It is considered the molecule capable of resynchronizing the human organism and regulating the circadian rhythm and all the functions of the organism that are related to the alternation of day and night. In addition to regulating the sleep-wake cycle, Melatonin works as a real biological clock for the organism, influencing various physiological processes. For example, the presence of receptors for Melatonin in various tissues, such as lymph nodes, thymus and spleen, indicates its role also in immunological processes.
Numerous studies conducted in recent decades have demonstrated the importance of this molecule in regulating numerous physiological processes and its relationship with the Nervous System, the Immune System and the Endocrine System. It is able to modulate the alternation between sleep and wakefulness, the mechanism of hunger and thirst, the production of urine, to regulate body temperature, basal metabolism and the release of hormones and even has a role in the emotional circuit.

The reduction in Melatonin production occurs already from the age of 25, a period in which the aging process begins, albeit slowly. It is a molecule naturally produced by our body and its integration has been widely studied even at high doses (10 mg per day) which have always shown a good tolerability profile. The numerous studies carried out on Melatonin have demonstrated the beneficial effects of the use of this substance in numerous pathologies and disorders in addition to sleep disorders. In integrated medicine according to PNEI, taking food supplements with this molecule is recommended to maintain the concentration of the substance in the body at youthful levels, preserving the regularity of our daily biological rhythms and therefore counteracting aging and the pathological consequences that derive from alterations in circadian rhythms.

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant capable of directly eliminating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (free radicals) and enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in our body.
Its reduction significantly affects the aging process, which is closely linked to the desynchronization of circadian hormonal cycles (day-night).
Melatonin delays aging by delaying the progressive deterioration (loss of sensitivity and therefore of bidirectional response) of the central control of hypothalamic-pituitary hormonal regulation, as demonstrated by the studies of the great Russian scientist Vladimir M. Dilman.
Melatonin can slow down aging because it also mitigates degenerative diseases typical of aging and that accelerate the process, such as hypertension, degeneration of vessels and arteries (arteriosclerosis), autoimmune diseases and prevents cancer.

Several studies, both in vivo and in vitro, have shown that Melatonin exerts various antineoplastic effects through multiple mechanisms, including the reduction of tumor cell proliferation and the inhibition of metastases. According to one study, Melatonin seems to sensitize tumor cells to the ionizing effects of radiation, improving the effectiveness of therapy. Studies have also shown the ability to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and to enhance their effect, in particular of Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Gefitinib and Tamoxifen. The main tumor types on which the antitumor effects of Melatonin have been observed are: breast, prostate, ovary, liver, kidney, lung, stomach, pancreas and colorectal cancer.

The protective capacity of Melatonin against damage related to hypertension and obesity suggests that dietary supplementation with exogenous Melatonin in later years may be an effective therapeutic intervention for these age-related conditions.