Plants Stress Just Like We Do. And That May Be A Good Thing To Know

Although plants do not have nervous systems, they respond to stress with chemical and electrical signals that are remarkably similar to those of animals, a new study has found.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, could help to explain why certain plant-derived drugs work so well in humans.

At the center of it all is the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which humans and animals, as well as plants, release when they are stressed out.

“We’ve known for a long time that the animal neurotransmitter GABA is produced by plants under stress, for example, when they encounter drought, salinity, viruses, acidic soils or extreme temperatures, but it was not known whether GABA was a signal in plants,” senior author Matthew Gilliham of the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine said in a press release.

He continued, “We’ve discovered that plants bind GABA in a similar way to animals, resulting in electrical signals that ultimately regulate plant growth when a plant is exposed to a stressful environment.”

Co-author Stephen Tyerman is optimistic that the discovery could lead to new ways of modifying how plants respond to stress. He explained that most yield losses from agricultural crops come from “major stresses” like pathogens and poor environmental conditions. If the plants succumb to these threats, food shortages may result.

Tyerman further explained that by “identifying how plants use GABA as a stress signal, we have a new tool to help in the global effort to breed more stress-resilient crops to fight food insecurity.”

The researchers suspect that GABA and its interaction with neurotransmitters evolved independently in the plant and animal kingdoms. This is because, while the proteins share many characteristics in common, some aspects of these same proteins are different between plants and animals.

Nevertheless, since the basic GABA signaling system exists within both groups, particular plant-derived drugs and other plant-based products often match well with our health needs. For example, chamomile is thought to bind to GABA receptors, acting as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. As a probable result, this natural ingredient tends to provide a gentle, natural feeling of calmness when consumed.

Additional research teams are currently investigating other key plant components, such as salicylic acid. Salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient of aspirin, is yet another plant signal molecule.

This bitter compound helps to regulate plant defenses against pathogens and other threats. It shows promise in treating a multitude of human ailments, such as cancer and heart disease. In future, its health benefits could extend far beyond its current common usage to reduce fevers and relieve headaches, but more studies are needed to better clarify its true potential as a medicine.