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The plant compound, resveratrol, has anti-stress effects by blocking the expression of an enzyme that controls stress in the brain.
"Resveratrol could be an effective alternative to drugs for the treatment of patients with depression and anxiety disorders," said Ying Xu, badociate professor at the University of Buffalo, USA.
The findings, published in the journal Neuropharmacolog, shed light on the effects of resveratrol on neurological processes, a compound with multiple health benefits found in the skin and seeds of grapes and berries.
Although research determined that resveratrol had antidepressant effects, the relationship of this compound to phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), an enzyme influenced by corticosterone, a stress hormone, was unknown.
Corticosterone regulates the body's response to stress. Too much stress, however, can result in excessive amounts of hormone circulating in the brain and, ultimately, depression or other mental disorders.
Research also reveals that PDE4, induced by excessive amounts of corticosterone, causes behavior similar to depression and anxiety.
The enzyme reduces cyclic adenosine monophosphate – a messenger molecule that signals physiological changes such as cell division, change, migration, and death – in the body, resulting in physical alterations in the brain.
Resveratrol has shown neuroprotective effects against corticosterone by inhibiting the expression of PDE4. The research lays the foundation for the use of the compound in newer antidepressants.
According to the researchers, although red wine contains resveratrol, alcohol consumption presents various health risks, including dependence.
Take notes, eat healthy and exercise daily: 7 ways to fight depression
Combat Depression
October 10, 2018
Stress and frustration can lead to depression, further affecting mental health.
If it is imperative to consult a health care professional if symptoms of depression are observed, some lifestyle modifications may help combat mild depression. However, moderate to severe depression requires medication.
Nevertheless, lifestyle changes help cure and prevent illness and future episodes.
Dr. Pallavi Aravind Joshi, consultant psychiatrist at Columbia Asia Hospital in Whitefield (Bengaluru), shares 7 tips to fight depression.
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