Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult male and female patients with active SLE aged 18-60 years
• Active SLE patients defined on SLEDAI-2K score to be (more than or equal 4 up to 11) according to the classification of SLE as suggested by the American Rheumatology Association (American College of Rheumatology)
• Have had non-life-threatening disease
• Taking stable doses of medications for SLE treatment in the last three months
• Ability and willingness to cooperate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other autoimmune diseases

• Uncontrolled hypertension or Uncontrolled DM

• Severe renal (GFR < 30 ml/min ) or severe liver diseases (ALT or AST <3 times ULN or total bilirubin > 2 times ULN)

• Life-threatening SLE including

  • Severe hemolysis (reticulocyte count >8%)
  • Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <40 000)
  • Endocarditis
  • Lupus pneumonia
  • Alveolar hemorrhage

• Using sedations, antidepressants, contraceptives, antioxidant and/or omega-3-fatty acid supplements one month prior to or during the study

• Smoking and/ or alcohol intake

• Allergy to melatonin

• Pregnancy, pregnancy plans and lactation.

• Having active infectious diseases

• poor patient compliance

• Any sleeping pills two weeks prior to the study

• Malabsorption syndromes

• Malignancy

• Warfarin or heparin use or high-dose aspirin (more than 325 mg/day)

• Stroke