Grapes might be a key to fighting depression, a new study has found.

Bioactive compounds derived from grapes were found to promote resilience against stress-induced depression among mice, according to new research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The study looked at the effects of dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA) and malvidin-3’-O-glucoside (Mal-Gluc) in mice, finding that the mice were more resistant to depression that was caused by stress. The compounds modulated inflammation and synaptic plasticity in the mice.

The study’s lead author, neurology professor Giulio Maria Pasinetti, said that the compounds were used to target underlying compounds of depression that had newly been discovered.

“This is the first time either DHCA or Mal-gluc have been shown to promote synaptic stability by regulating the expression of inflammatory proteins,” Pasinetti said. “We believe this research supports new initiatives into how inflammation may contribute to depressive-like behaviors as well as provides a novel therapeutic approach toward preventing inflammation.”

“We chose to specifically investigate dihydrocaffeic acid and malvidin-3’-O glucoside because we found these two compounds both accumulated in the plasma and blood as well as regulated the expression of proteins (IL-6 and Rac1) that we showed promoted resilience against depression,” added Pasinetti.

Eat More Grapes!

Could these grape compounds help to prevent depression in humans? Either way, it’s never a bad idea to eat some delicious grapes.

Here are some grape ideas from the Food Monster App!

Cinnamon Spiced Apple and Grape Salad

This Cinnamon Spiced Apple and Grape Salad from Danielle Joy is the perfect salad for any time of year. Reap the health benefits of grapes’ antioxidants with this salad!

3-Ingredient Grape Chia Jelly

Jesse Lane Lee‘s 3-Ingredient Grape Chia Jelly couldn’t be easier to make. Plus, it’s ready to eat after being refrigerated for just 30 minutes.

Fresh Red Grape Cake

Feel free to indulge with this Fresh Red Grape Cake from Joyce Gan. The grape syrup for the cake is made with grape juice. Delicious!

Hungry for more grape recipes? Download the Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day.

Lead Image Source: Chrisada / Flickr