Effects of melatonin against experimentally induced apical periodontitis in rats

Apical periodontitis is an inflammatory condition resulting from microbial invasion in the root canal system, causing periapical tissue destruction and bone resorption. This study investigated melatonin's effects, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, on experimentally induced apical periodontitis in rats. Three groups of rats were studied: control, apical periodontitis and apical periodontitis with melatonin treatment. Proinflammatory cytokines and enzyme levels in blood serum were measured, and micro-CT analysis assessed bone resorption. Results showed significantly elevated cytokines and enzyme levels in the apical periodontitis group compared to the control. However, in the melatonin-treated group, these levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.01–0.001). Micro-CT analysis indicated decreased periapical resorption cavity volume and surface area with melatonin treatment. This suggests that systemic melatonin administration can mitigate inflammation and reduce bone resorption in experimentally induced apical periodontitis in rats, potentially holding promise for human endodontic disease treatment pending further research.