title: Natural Compounds Modulating Mitochondrial Functions.
abstract: Mitochondria are organelles responsible for several crucial cell functions, including respiration, oxidative phosphorylation, and regulation of apoptosis; they are also the main intracellular source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the last years, a particular interest has been devoted to studying the effects on mitochondria of natural compounds of vegetal origin, quercetin (Qu), resveratrol (RSV), and curcumin (Cur) being the most studied molecules. All these natural compounds modulate mitochondrial functions by inhibiting organelle enzymes or metabolic pathways (such as oxidative phosphorylation), by altering the production of mitochondrial ROS and by modulating the activity of transcription factors which regulate the expression of mitochondrial proteins. While Qu displays both pro- and antioxidant activities, RSV and Cur are strong antioxidant, as they efficiently scavenge mitochondrial ROS and upregulate antioxidant transcriptional programmes in cells. All the three compounds display a proapoptotic activity, mediated by the capability to directly cause the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria or indirectly by upregulating the expression of proapoptotic proteins of Bcl-2 family and downregulating antiapoptotic proteins. Interestingly, these effects are particularly evident on proliferating cancer cells and can have important therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibellini
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Biasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinti