Although depression cases are not all the same and, therefore, treatments vary, what a study recently concluded is that a toad venom, from the Incilius alvarius species, can help fight it.

The article, published in the journal Nature, proved the potential of a specific compound of the substance 5-MeO-DMT in treating diseases such as depression and anxiety in rats. The authors of the study believe that these psychedelics act through an interaction with serotonin receptors, an essential neurotransmitter in cellular communication and responsible for good mood, for example.

Read Also: Cancer. Specialist indicates food to avoid (and that almost everyone eats) (Portuguese version)

These findings "suggest a potential pathway for the development of drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders," the scientists say, stressing, however, that "further research is needed to assess whether these findings can be translated to humans.".

The group from the Icahn School of Medicine in the United States analyzed how 5-MeO-DMT interacts with a type of serotonin receptor called 5-HT 1A and modified the structure of the psychedelic compound in different locations, creating variants to be tested. The scientists made comparisons with LSD and drugs focused on 5-HT 1A, and found that the toad venom compound achieves a similar antidepressant and anxiolytic effect.

The researchers developed a variant of 5-MeO-DMT whose efficacy was tested in rats. It was then that they found that it produced an activity similar to that of antidepressants.

Read Also: Implement these habits into your routine to keep your heart healthy (Portuguese version)

--

Emotional support telephone services in Portugal

SOS Voz Amiga (between 4 pm and midnight) -  213 544 545 (toll-free) - 912 802 669 - 963 524 660 

Conversa Amiga (between 3 pm and 10 pm) - 808 237 327 (toll-free) and 210 027 159

Telefone da Esperança (between 8 pm and 11 pm) - 222 080 707 

Telefone da Amizade (between 4 pm and 11 pm) – 228 323 535

All these contacts guarantee anonymity both for the caller and for the person answering. On SNS24 (808 24 24 24), the contact is assumed by health professionals. You must select option 4 for psychological counseling. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Read Also: The foods that cause us the most gas (none of them is beans) (Portuguese version)