ferroptosis
Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death triggered by the failure of antioxidant defenses, leading to the accumulation of lipid peroxides. This mechanism is relevant to plant science as a distinct cell death pathway that likely influences plant stress responses, iron homeostasis, and developmental processes that extend beyond apoptosis and other well-characterized forms of programmed cell death.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-03-12
A study found that combining two traditional Chinese medicinal herbs — Rehmannia glutinosa and Ephedra sinica — improves heart function in mice with a common form of heart failure, and identified the biological pathways responsible, including protection against a type of iron-driven cell death called ferroptosis.
The Rehmannia + Ephedra combination improved diastolic function and reduced cardiac remodeling in HFpEF mice induced by high-fat diet plus a nitric oxide blocker.
Mechanistic analysis via network pharmacology and metabolomics pinpointed lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis (iron-dependent cell death) as central targets, mediated through the PI3K/AKT and GPX4/ACSL4 pathways.
In cell culture, herb-treated serum protected heart cells from palmitic acid-induced metabolic dysfunction and ferroptosis, with effects partially reversed by pathway inhibitors LY294002 and RSL3.
