Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent cells which are capable of self-replication and differentiation into neurons,astrocytes or oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS).NSCs are found in two main regions in the adult brain : the subgranular zone (SGZ) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and the subventricular zone (SVZ).The recent discovery of NSCs in the adult mammalian brain has fostered a plethora of translational and preclinical studies to investigate novel approaches for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.Melatonin is the major secretory product synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland and shows both a wide distribution within phylogenetically distant organisms from bacteria to humans and a great functional versatility.Recently,accumulated experimental evidence showed that melatonin plays an important role in NSCs,including its proliferation,differentiation and survival,which are modulated by many factors including MAPK/ERK signaling pathway,histone acetylation,neurotrophic factors,transcription factors,and apoptotic genes.In this review,we summary the current information related to the beneficial effects of melatonin on NSCs and further discuss the potential usage of melatonin in the treatment of CNS neurodegenerative diseases.