The jasmonates are a group of plant stress hormones that naturally occur in plants following exposure to particular stresses, including pathogen and herbivore attacks. This compound is a mixture of trans (3R/7R and 3S/7S) isomers and induces the synthesis of proteinase inhibitors in plant leaves. In cancer cells, it suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis. More specifically, methyl jasmonate inhibits hexokinase that is bound to mitochondria. As hexokinase is overexpressed in cancer cells and contributes to cancer cell growth and survival, methyl jasmonate’s disruption of mitochondrial hexokinase activity selectively targets, and kills, cancer cells. Methyl jasmonate derivatives also have potential as anti-inflammatory agents.
