mitochondrial-transfer
Mitochondrial transfer refers to the movement of mitochondria or mitochondrial genetic material between cells or organisms, occurring naturally during processes like grafting, cell fusion, or horizontal gene transfer. In plants, this phenomenon can introduce new genetic variation, influence hybrid vigor, and even enable the exchange of organellar DNA between distantly related species, offering insights into plant evolution and potential tools for crop improvement.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-07-08
Researchers found that mitochondria extracted from edible plants like turmeric can travel from the gut to the brain when fed to aged mice, fuse with brain immune cells, and reverse cognitive decline by reducing harmful oxidative stress and boosting energy production.
Orally administered turmeric-derived mitochondria traveled from gut to brain in aged mice, where they physically fused with microglial mitochondria via mitofusin 1.
Plant microRNAs (Tae-miR319 and Osa-miR166a-3p) from turmeric mitochondria suppressed complex I subunits ND4 and ND5, reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing ATP production in microglia.
Human elderly subjects showed the same overactivated reverse electron transport and ROS overproduction pattern that plant mitochondria corrected in mice, suggesting therapeutic relevance.
