Lycopene shows promise as a natural treatment for depression in new study

news-medical.net February 4, 2025, 08:00 PM UTC

New research indicates that lycopene, a natural plant extract, may have antidepressant effects. A study published in Food Science & Nutrition highlights how lycopene can improve brain function in mice showing depressive-like behaviors. In the study, lycopene treatment reduced impairments in the hippocampus and improved depressive traits in the mice. It also increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is important for brain health. The authors suggest that their findings could lead to new antidepressant therapies. They plan to conduct further studies to explore these effects in different brain regions.


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