Effects of curcumin and ursolic acid on the mitochondrial coupling efficiency and hydrogen peroxide emission of intact skeletal myoblasts

Informing the Cannabis Conjecture: From Life's Beginnings to Mitochondria, Membranes and the Electrome-A Review

Before the late 1980s, ideas around how the lipophilic phytocannabinoids might be working involved membranes and bioenergetics as these disciplines were "in vogue". However, as interest in genetics and pharmacology grew, interest in mitochondria (and membranes) waned. The discovery of the cognate receptor for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) led to the classification of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the conjecture that phytocannabinoids might be "working" through this system. However, the how and the "why" they might be beneficial, especially for compounds like CBD, remains unclear. Given the centrality of membranes and mitochondria in complex organisms, and their evolutionary heritage from the beginnings of life, revisiting phytocannabinoid action in this light could be enlightening. For example, life can be described as a self-organising and replicating far from equilibrium dissipating system, which is defined by the movement of charge across a membrane. Hence the building evidence, at least in animals, that THC and CBD modulate mitochondrial function could be highly informative. In this paper, we offer a unique perspective to the question, why and how do compounds like CBD potentially work as medicines in so many different conditions? The answer, we suggest, is that they can modulate membrane fluidity in a number of ways and thus dissipation and engender homeostasis, particularly under stress. To understand this, we need to embrace origins of life theories, the role of mitochondria in plants and explanations of disease and ageing from an adaptive thermodynamic perspective, as well as quantum mechanics.

Bidirectional Regulatory Mechanisms of Jaceosidin on Mitochondria Function: Protective Effects of the Permeability Transition and Damage of Membrane Functions

Many natural products could induce apoptosis through mitochondrial pathways. However, direct interactions between natural products and mitochondria have rarely been reported. In this work, the effects and regulatory mechanisms of Jaceosidin on the isolated rat liver mitochondria have been studied. The results of the experiments which by introducing exogenous Ca²⁺ illustrated that Jaceosidin has the protective effects on the structure and function of the isolated mitochondria. These protective effects were related to the chelation of Ca²⁺ with Jaceosidin. Besides, Jaceosidin could scavenge reactive oxygen species produced during electron transport, and weaken the mitochondrial lipid peroxidation rate, which may be attributed to the antioxidant effect of phenolic hydroxyl groups of Jaceosidin. In addition, Jaceosidin has some damage effects on mitochondrial function, such as the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and the increase of mitochondrial membrane fluidity. These results of this work provided comprehensive information to clarify the mechanisms of Jaceosidin on mitochondria, which may be the bidirectional regulatory mechanisms.