Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to the widespread use of cell phone devices today, numerous research studies have focused on the adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation on human neuropsychological and reproductive systems. In most studies, oxidative stress has been identified as the primary pathophysiological mechanism underlying the harmful effects of electromagnetic waves. This paper aims to provide a holistic review of the protective effects of melatonin against cell phone-induced electromagnetic waves on various organs. METHODS: This study is a systematic review of articles chosen by searching Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct using the keywords 'melatonin', 'cell phone radiation', and 'animal model'. The search focused on articles written in English, which were reviewed and evaluated. The PRISMA process was used to review the articles chosen for the study, and the JBI checklist was used to check the quality of the reviewed articles. RESULTS: In the final review of 11 valid quality-checked articles, the effects of melatonin in the intervention group, the effects of electromagnetic waves in the case group, and the amount of melatonin in the chosen organ, i.e. brain, skin, eyes, testis and the kidney were thoroughly examined. The review showed that electromagnetic waves increase cellular anti-oxidative activity in different tissues such as the brain, the skin, the eyes, the testis, and the kidneys. Melatonin can considerably augment the anti-oxidative system of cells and protect tissues; these measurements were significantly increased in control groups. Electromagnetic waves can induce tissue atrophy and cell death in various organs including the brain and the skin and this effect was highly decreased by melatonin. CONCLUSION: Our review confirms that melatonin effectively protects the organs of animal models against electromagnetic waves. In light of this conclusion and the current world-wide use of melatonin, future studies should advance to the stages of human clinical trials. We also recommend that more research in the field of melatonin physiology is conducted in order to protect exposed cells from dying and that melatonin should be considered as a pharmaceutical option for treating the complications resulting from electromagnetic waves in humans.