July 28: New research has revealed that Resveratrol found in red wine, displays anti-stress effects by blocking the expression of an enzyme related to the control of stress in the brain, according to a University at Buffalo-led study published in the journal Neuropharmacology on July 15 but it also warns against the health risks of alcohol including addiction
It is well known fact that many women and men already have a glass of red wine after a hectic day’s work and feel it provides protection against extreme stress. A recent study aims to dig deeper into the cause and effects of Resveratrol, the anti-oxidant found in red wine. It displays anti-stress effects by blocking the expression of an enzyme which controls stress in the brain.
"Resveratrol may be an effective alternative to drugs for treating patients suffering from depression and anxiety disorders," says Ying Xu, MD, Ph.D., co-lead author and research associate professor in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The findings shed light onto how it affects the neurological processes.
While research has identified that Resveratrol has antidepressant effects, the compound's relationship to PDE4, an enzyme influenced by the stress hormone Corticosterone, was unknown. It regulates the body's response to stress. Too much stress, can lead to excessive amounts of the hormone circulating in the brain and, ultimately, the development of depression or other mental disorders.
These unknown physiological relationships make drug therapy complex. Current antidepressants focus only on serotonin or noradrenalin function in the brain. But only a third of patients with depression enter full remission in response to these medications, says Ying Xu.
In a study on mice, researchers revealed that PDE4, induced by excessive amounts of corticosterone, causes depression- and anxiety-like behaviour.
The enzyme lowers a messenger molecule that signals physiological changes such as cell division, change, migration and death—in the body, leading to physical alterations in the brain. Resveratrol displayed neuroprotective effects against corticosterone by inhibiting the expression of PDE4. The research lays the groundwork for use in the compound in novel antidepressants.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, depression and anxiety disorders affect 16 and 40 million people respectively in the United States. The number is very significant even in India.
For more technical details, please read report in Medical Express
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