Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Anti-depressant Effects of Resveratrol: a Review

Abstract

Major depression is a public health problem, affecting 121 million people worldwide. Patients suffering from depression present high rates of morbidity, causing profound economic and social impacts. Furthermore, patients with depression present cognitive impairments, which could influence on treatment adherence and long-term outcomes. The pathophysiology of major depression is not completely understood yet but involves reduced levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, bioenergetics, and redox disturbances, as well as inflammation and neuronal loss. Treatment with anti-depressants provides a complete remission of symptoms in approximately 50% of patients with major depression. However, these drugs may cause side effects, as sedation and weight gain. In this context, there is increasing interest in studies focusing on the anti-depressant effects of natural compounds found in the diet. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene; CHO; MW 228.247 g/mol) and has been found in peanuts, berries, grapes, and wine and induces anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects in several mammalian cell types. Resveratrol also elicits anti-depressant effects, as observed in experimental models using animals. Therefore, resveratrol may be viewed as a potential anti-depressant agent, as well as may serve as a model of molecule to be modified aiming to ameliorate depressive symptoms in humans. In the present review, we describe and discuss the anti-depressant effects of resveratrol focusing on the mechanism of action of this phytoalexin in different experimental models.

Low dose γ radiation enhances antidepressant effect of resveratrol: Behavioral and neurochemical studies

“…This was in line with. 17,42 These results were explained by previous findings of 43,44 who stated that resveratrol is able to protect and rescue hippocampal neurons that were exposed to stress response because of its purported antioxidant activities by scavenging free radicals and metals, protecting against NO toxicity, upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes. 45 Of note, resveratrol also plays a valuable role in the cellular response by reducing quinone reductase 2 activity, which triggers neuronal injuries and memory impairments.…”

Resveratrol Suppresses Cross-Talk between Colorectal Cancer Cells and Stromal Cells in Multicellular Tumor Microenvironment: A Bridge between In Vitro and In Vivo Tumor Microenvironment Study

“…It has been reported that resveratrol is known to be a multi-targeted safe, plant-derived polyphenolic compound [ 34 ] and has been associated with anti-inflammatory [ 69 ], anti-oxidant [ 70 ], anti-depressant [ 71 ], anti-atherogenic [ 72 ], anti-aging [ 73 ], as well as anti-cancer [ 74 , 75 , 76 ] properties, but the mechanisms of the complex action of resveratrol signaling during carcinogenesis in multicellular-TME are not yet fully understood. Furthermore, our group has published extensively on the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties of resveratrol in various CRC tumor cells in monolayer and 3D alginate cultures, often showing how the resveratrol signaling pathway is dependent on Sirt1 as one of its important intracellular target proteins [ 17 , 18 , 36 , 37 , 41 , 42 ].…”

Resveratrol: a review of plant sources, synthesis, stability, modification and food application

“…At present, resveratrol has attracted increasing attention from the food community due to its lower cost and side effects . The resveratrol synthesized or extracted from plants had various bioactive effects and had preventive effects on illnesses such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammation . Different oligomers of resveratrol were proven to exhibit a wide range of bioactivity, such as antibacterial, anti‐fungal, and antiviral effects .…”