Stressed Plants Self-Medicate by Making Their Own Aspirin

When people suffer from headaches or throbbing joints, they often turn to medication to alleviate their symptoms. A new study from UC Riverside scientists shows that plants may be doing the same thing. When under stress from environmental factors, plants seem to cope by producing salicylic acid, which is the active metabolite of aspirin. “It's like plants use a painkiller for aches and pains, just like we do,” said study author and plant biologist Wilhelmina van de Ven. For the purpose of their research, the scientists only analyzed a model plant called arabidopsis, but hope to apply their learnings of stress responses in the cells of this plant to many others, including those used for food. “We’d like to be able to use the gained knowledge to improve crop resistance,” said plant geneticist and study author Jin-Zheng Wang. “That will be crucial for the food supply in our increasingly hot, bright world.” By understanding how plants handle stress, the researchers can help ensure that our leafy friends continue to thrive, providing our world with shade, habitats, and food despite the increasing pressures from climate change.

How Plants Do It