Effects of Plant and Animal Natural Products on Mitophagy

Abstract

Mitophagy is a protected cellular process that is essential for autophagic removal of damaged mitochondria and for preservation of a healthy mitochondrial population. In the last years, a particular interest has been devoted in studying the effects of natural compounds on mitophagy. Different natural compounds may modulate mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, the expression of mitophagy-and autophagy-related genes, and the activities of transcription factors which regulate the expression of mitochondrial proteins, thereby controlling mitochondrial damage and mitophagy. Remarkably, since mitochondrial function has a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various diseases (e.g., cancer, atherosclerosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, diabetes complications, Alzheimer's disease, and hepatic steatosis), these effects might have important therapeutic implications. In this review, preclinical studies investigating the role of different natural compounds in the modulation of mitophagy will be discussed.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiology and Emerging Therapies

“…Mitophagy, aimed at the destruction of damaged and therefore potentially cytotoxic mitochondria, is important for the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis in physiological or pathological conditions [210]. In this context, genetic defects in autophagy or mitophagy favor the development of degenerative CVD; similarly, in pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis or acute myocardial ischemia, autophagy is impaired, causing cardiac remodeling [113,[211][212][213][214][215][216].…”

Roles of Mitochondria in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Therapy: Friend or Foe?

“…For example, phenethyl isothiocyanates, which could lead to the mitochondrial cell death process, and gossypol, which could inhibit Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, are undergoing clinical trials [ 167 ]. In addition, other natural compounds coming from Chinese herbal medicine, vegetable and animal, including resveratrol, curcumin and toxicarioside, can also influence mitochondrial function [ 168 , 169 ]. However, sometimes, low solubility, poor bioavailability and the side effects of harming normal tissues are the shortcomings of chemotherapy [ 164 ].…”

Dietary Mitophagy Enhancer: A Strategy for Healthy Brain Aging?

“…Japanese knotweed possesses the highest naturally occurring levels of resveratrol [ 16 ]. Numerous biological properties of resveratrol have been reported, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiaging, and neuro- and cardioprotective effects [ 24 , 27 , 28 ].…”