Plants know how to produce their own emergency pain reliever

If a headache strikes, many people will seek medication. Surprisingly, scientists have recently found evidence that plants are doing the same by making their own "painkillers".

Research in California (USA) has recently delved into this special self-defense mechanism in plants, as well as how they produce salicylic acid - the main ingredient in today's aspirin pain reliever.

Plants change color in experiments to cope with high light pressure

Plant biologist Wilhelmina Van De Ven of the University of California, Riverside (UCR), who led the study, said her team discovered salicylic acid is made in the chloroplasts of plants. Chloroplasts are small blue organelles that carry out essential photosynthesis.

The team conducted research on two types of plants Rockcress and Arabidopsis belonging to the cruciferous family. Wilhelmina and her colleagues focused on a molecule called MecPP, which often functions as an early warning of danger. MecPP is also found in some malaria bacteria and parasites.

When subjected to stress and risk factors in experiments including high temperature, constant sunlight or lack of water, MecPP accumulated in plants will contribute to a number of chemical reactions. , in which the reaction produces salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid is involved in signaling to other parts of the plant to help them regulate their activity against external stressors. Other defense mechanisms will also be activated thanks to the presence of salicylic acid and MecPP.

Several biochemical analyzes were performed on plants with mutants that inactivate the salicylic acid signaling pathways. As a result, the tree is at greater risk of dying.

The team's research has just been published in the journal Science Advances. 

Scientists in the research group

In the coming time, the team will continue to carry out some in-depth surveys to learn more about the stress response mechanisms of plants, especially when the environment is currently subject to many extreme weather events because Climate Change.

Plant geneticist Jin-Zheng Wang of the University of California, Riverside (UCR), study co-author - said the results obtained would be very valuable. 

"Based on this, we were able to find ways to improve crop tolerance. This is important for their ability to provide food in an increasingly warming world. me," said Mr. Wang.