Melatonin: One Molecule One- Medicine For Many Diseases, Coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) Disease (Covid-19); Function In Plants

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue III, March 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705

Melatonin: One Molecule One- Medicine For Many Diseases, Coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) Disease (Covid-19); Function In Plants

Ravindra B. Malabadi¹, Kiran P. Kolkar², Neelambika T. Meti³, Raju K. Chalannavar^4
1,⁴Department of Applied Botany, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri-574199, Mangalore, Karnataka State, India
²Department of Botany, Karnatak Science College, Dharwad, Karnataka state, India
³Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of IT and Biotechnology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune-Satara Road, Katraj, Pune – 411046, Maharashtra State, India

Abstract
This review paper highlights the role of melatonin in many diseases, coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (covid-19) and multi-physiological functions in plants. Based on its ubiquitous distribution (animal, human, plant, fungi, bacteria, algae), and multi-directional activity, melatonin is recommended as one of the most versatile biological signal of nature. Melatonin, so called a Hormone of darkness, has a high safety profile and potential to be used as COVID-19 therapy. Melatonin is a light sensitive molecule used in the therapy of sleeping disorders- insomnia, glaucoma, stroke, cancers, puberty, Alzheimers disease, Parkinson disease, ultraviolet light skin damage protection, thrombocytopenia, in smoking cessation, headache protection, migrane, and as an antioxidant. Melotonin is present in different parts of all the plant species studied, including leaves, stems, roots, fruits and seeds. Melatonin plays an important aspect to regulate the several physiological role of plants viz. circadian regulator, cytoprotector, growth promoter, antioxidant and free radical scavenger. In plants, melatonin also promotes rhizogenesis, cellular expansion and provide defense against environmental stress condition. Melatonin aids plants in terms of root growth, leaf morphology, chlorophyll preservation and fruit development.

Keywords: Coronavirus, herbal medine, hormone of darkness, light sensitive, phytomelatonin, signal molecule, SARS-CoV-2

Introduction
Melatonin was first discovered in 1958 from the bovine pineal gland of cattle and identified as N-acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine by Lerner and coworkers (Lerner et al., 1958; Arnao and Hernández-Ruiz, 2006). Melatonin is an evolutionarily conserved molecule that serves a time-keeping function in various species (Zawilska et al., 2009; Arnao and Hernández-Ruiz, 2006). Melatonin seems to be a ubiquitous molecule in the living world. In 1959, melatonin was detected in humans (Lerner et al., 1959; Arnao and Hernández-Ruiz, 2006). Later in the 1960s and 1970s, melatonin was detected in many mammals and vertebrates such as birds, amphibians, and fish (Arnao, 2014; Arnao and Hernández-Ruiz, 2006, 2007a, 2007b, 2008, 2015; Fan et al., 2018; Hardeland, 2016; Hernandez-Ruiz et al., 2005). It was named melatonin because of its ability in certain fish, reptiles and amphibians to lighten skin (Arnao and Hernández-Ruiz, 2006; Tan et al., 2007; Cardinali et al., 1997). In mammals, melatonin is secreted from the pineal gland at night, from where it diffuses into the cerebro-spinal fluid and the blood stream, although levels quickly drop during the day (Arnao and Hernández-Ruiz, 2006). In 1991, melatonin was detected in the unicellular algae Gonyaulax polyedra and

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