Russian Researchers Develop Antidepressant Drug Derived from Bacteria

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Moscow, July 09 (QNA) - Researchers from the Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Biotechnology have developed a drug derived from a bacterium called Lactobacillus, capable of treating depression and reducing anxiety in patients suffering from obesity and other mental disorders.

The research team, led by Professor Valery Danilenko, head of the Department of Genetic Foundations at the institute, conducted experiments on a group of young volunteer participants, aged between 34 and 36, who were obese and diagnosed with unipolar depression, a mental disorder characterized by persistent depression, apathy, and loss of energy.

Questionnaires showed that the 28-day treatment reduced participants' depression symptoms from moderate to mild, lowered their anxiety levels, and was associated with improved bowel function, mental health, and cognitive abilities.

Professor Danilenko said: "This antidepressant drug derived from Lactobacillus bacteria is suitable for depression patients in cases where depression is highly variable and multifaceted, and is associated with almost all chronic diseases, and shows relatively good results in people with metabolic syndrome, or simply obesity."