New compounds with potential anti-depressant activity discovered

Washington, Feb 21 : A researcher of the University of Navarra has discovered new compounds with the potential for anti-depressant activity.

The researcher with the Drug R and D Unit of the University of Navarra, Luis Berrade, synthesized 51 compounds in the study.

The researcher explained that the new molecules designed by him affect two brain targets which are considered to be key in the development of processes of depression.

One of these is the serotonin transporter, whose reuptake reduction has already been shown to improve mood; the other is the serotoninergic receptor 5-HT7, a therapeutic target for serotonin whose modulation can provoke anti-depressant effects.

In order to study these two key targets, Luis Berrade developed chemical structures via the fusion of two similar chemical compounds: the benzo[b]-thiophene ring and arilamine.

Following this, he compared the new compounds with a drug currently on the market, Fluoxetine.

As a result of this research, he explained, we discovered that nine of these compounds demonstrated greater affinity, in this sense, than the commercial drug.

This study, one of the first in the world in this specialty, was undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology of the University of Navarra.

The study's objective was to discover whether the new compounds could reduce the minimum time required for anti-depressant drugs to ameliorate the symptoms of the disease.

ANI