TRP family of channesl – TerpeneTargets

Rosemary Oil for Hair loss

This post explores the top terpenes in rosemary essential oil. What might be the mechanism of these terpenes promoting hair growth?

Eucalyptol

This post makes the case that eucalyptol, aka 1,8-cineole, is an activator of TRPM8 and an inhibitor of the L-type voltage gated calcium channel found in smooth muscle.

p-cymene

p-Cymene is anti-bacterial. Is it also inhibit mammalian mitochondria? Yes, it uncouples respiration of isolated micochondria.

Introduction The TRPM2 structure comes from RCSB.org entry 6PUS. It features human TRPM2 bound to ADP-ribose, an NAD+ metabolite produced under oxidative stress and/or neuro degenerative conditions. The TRPV4 is from Xenopus. 6C8H The gadolinium inhibitor (arrow) is part of this structure. The TRPM2 mRNA and TRPV4 mRNA expression data are from Proteinatlas.org. The firstContinue reading “Carvacrol and TRPM2”

Frenchol

Frenchol is a primary terpene of basil and closely related to borneol. This is a journey that took some strange twists. Two groups of scientists were looking for neurological disease treatments. The paradoxical thing is that neither of the frenchol/fenchone targets are expressed in the brain in large amounts. They are both expressed in theContinue reading “Frenchol”

Terpinene

This post examines some biological actions and possible targets of four of the major terpenes in tea tree oil.

Camphor

According to PubChem, the best source of of campor is the Camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora. Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis L. may contain 10-20% camphor. Camphor is only one of many terpenes found in basil, or Ocimum species. Scientists from South Africa have published an interesting review on the historic use of camphor throughout the world. Natural camphor,Continue reading “Camphor”

Turning TRPV1 off

How can something like capsaicin of chili pepper fame/infame hurt like bloody hell and then have analgesic properties? We have covered the TRP family of Ca2+ channels on a page on this site. Nature has given us a negative feedback mechanism byway of a small Ca2+ modulated protein that we call calmodulin, of CaM forContinue reading “Turning TRPV1 off”

Myrcene, Terpenes, and TrpV1

This study came out of the laboratory of experimental medicine in Honolulu Hawaii. As a general background it might be worth while to review Ca2+-calmodulin inhibition of this Ca2+ channel and and Trp family overview. This group selected myrcene and and a mixture of strain inspired terpenes. The latter was identified as dominant terpenes inContinue reading “Myrcene, Terpenes, and TrpV1”