Melatonin is primarily used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products to support sleep and regulate the bodys sleepwake cycle. It is also used in research related to circadian rhythms.

Its main purpose is to help regulate circadian rhythm and sleep timing particularly in situations such as jet lag or altered sleep schedules.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland. Chemically it is an indoleamine compound (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) involved in signaling the bodys biological night.