| With the aging of the population, the incidence of osteoporosis becomes higher and higher. The main mechanism of traditional drug therapy is to prevent bone loss, which will be accompanied by a variety of adverse reactions. Melatonin, an indole hormone secreted by the pineal gland, can regulate bone metabolism. Melatonin enhances osteoblast differentiation by activating MT2 receptor and regulating bone metabolism, antioxidation, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC). Besides, melatonin inhibits osteoclast differentiation by down-regulating nuclear factor-κ B (RANK) receptor activating factor ligand (RANKL) and up-regulating calcitonin secretion. In addition, a large number of animal and human experiments have also revealed that melatonin improves bone microstructure, regulates bone metabolic indicators, increases bone mineral density with almost no serious adverse reactions. Thus, melatonin is of great potential in the treatment of osteoporosis. |