Many people love relaxing with a glass of red wine after a long day. Now, new research has found that there is an actual compound in red wine that can help with depression and anxiety.

Researchers at the University Of Buffalo just carried out a study that concluded that the plant compound resveratrol, which is found in red wine, has anti-stress effects because it blocks the expression of an enzyme related to the control of stress in the brain.

“Resveratrol may be an effective alternative to drugs for treating patients suffering from depression and anxiety disorders,” said Dr. Ying Xu, co-lead author and research associate professor in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Resveratol, which has many other health benefits as well, is a compound found in the skin and seeds of grapes and berries. Though it had been found that resveratrol has antidepressant effects, the compound’s relationship to phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), an enzyme influenced by the stress hormone corticosterone, was unknown.

Corticosterone is what regulates the body’s response to stress, and too much stress can can lead to excessive amounts of the hormone circulating in the brain. This will then lead to depression and other neurological disorders.

Xu explained that current antidepressants focus on serotonin or noradrenaline function in the brain, but only one-third of patients with depression enter full remission in response to these medications. These new findings can completely change the way depression is treated, helping far more people in the process. We can’t wait to see what strides are made in treating depression and other disorders from this in the years to come!