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Shocks make plants produce more chemicals

Nature (2008)Cite this article

Reaction to electric stress leads to larger chemical yields.

A few milliamps of electricity can cause plants to increase synthesis of chemicals. These compounds often also have a pharmacological or commercial value, so the trick could be used to help increase yields of commercially useful biologicals. Artemisinic acid, from sweet wormwood, for example, is used in malarial medications, and shikonin, from the purple gromwell plant, is used against skin infections.

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References

  1. Kaimoyo E. et al. Biotechnol. Prog. advanced online publication, doi: 10.1021/bp0703329 (2008).

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  1. Matt Kaplan
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Kaplan, M. Shocks make plants produce more chemicals. Nature (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2008.711

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2008.711

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