Resveratrol Found in Red Grapes and Red Wine can Help Ease Your Depression

Depression is a mood disorder causing a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. A new study by University of South Carolina School of Medicine has found that red grapes and wine can help ease depression. Mice studies revealed that resveratrol, a natural anti-inflammatory agent found in the skin of red grapes, can prevent inflammation as well as depression-related behaviors in rodents exposed to a social stress.

Susan K. Wood said, "The research is very relevant to today's society because it investigates potential treatments for people with an increased susceptibility to depression and related disorders that arise due to social stress. We hope our findings will encourage scientists who are running clinical trials to test the effectiveness of natural anti-inflammatory agents on depression, which is currently an understudied area."

Researcher Julie Finnell said, "Resveratrol appears to knock down inflammation throughout the body. We found that administering resveratrol blocks the inflammation normally seen in animals undergoing the bullying stress and brings it to control levels."

Besides being naturally present in the skin of red grapes and in red wine, resveratrol is also sold as a supplement. Previous studies have shown that the natural agent might be responsible for red wine's ability to prevent blood vessel damage and reduce LDL cholesterol. Experiments using high doses of resveratrol in animals have suggested it might help protect from obesity and diabetes.

Source: ANI