A brain mechanism has been discovered that will allow treatment of depression without side effects

This is according to the results of a study led by Prof. Esther Frieda from the Ariel University Center, in collaboration with researchers from the Hebrew University and the Weizmann Institute

A brain mechanism that was not known until now may make it possible to deal with depression and anxiety without the known drug side effects such as obesity, sexual dysfunction and drug addiction - this study led by Prof. Ester Frieda is one of nearly 50 new studies that will be presented next week at the Ariel University Center in Samaria , as part of the "18th Judea and Samaria Research Conference", a multidisciplinary scientific conference held in cooperation with the R&D of the Samaria and Jordan Valley regions.

A group of researchers from the Ariel University Center in Samaria, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science tested the effects of the resin incense of the Boswellia plant, which was used for religious worship in ancient times.

Prof. Frida and her researchers found that one of the main components of frankincense, the incensole acetate (IA), has a psychoactive, anti-depressant and anxiety effect. During the study, the researchers discovered to their surprise a new brain mechanism (responsible for the action of IA), which acts on TRPV3 receptors (transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 ion channel), but not on other receptors known to regulate mood (receptors for dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin or opiates).

Antidepressants based on increasing the activity of receptors and mood regulators (the neurotransmitters serotonin and/or norepinephrine) are currently in use. These drugs have serious side effects, such as sexual dysfunction and obesity. In addition, anti-anxiety drugs are addictive, so molecules that activate the TRPV3 channel, and IA in particular, have the potential to develop psychiatric drugs that work on a different mechanism, and without side effects.

In the Jewish tradition, frankincense resin was a main component of the incense that was used in the tabernacle and temple. The Babylonian Talmud describes giving a potion of wine with frankincense resin to prisoners who were sentenced to death - "so that they would not worry". The ancients probably recognized in lavender anti-anxiety properties, so far this issue has not been scientifically investigated. Together with Prof. Frieda participation in the research Dr. Aryeh Mousayov (Hebrew University and the Weizmann Institute), Nikoli Govshtis, Dr. Tatiana Bergman and Dr. Avraham A. Shemesh (Ariel University Center), Prof. Esti Shohami (Hebrew University), D Prof. Neta Rimmerman (Weizmann Institute), and Prof. Raphael Meshulam (Hebrew University).