Description: The realization that receptors interact with each other and are not siloed as individual units is particularly relevant to complex medicinal plant extracts such as found in some medicinal plant preparations. Specifically, it has been demonstrated that GPCRs (G protein coupled receptors) are integral membrane proteins that are used by cells to convert extracellular signals into intracellular responses, including responses to hormones, neurotransmitters, as well as responses to vision, olfaction, and taste signals. And this suggests that various incoming signals, such as "non-active" plant molecules, may impact the plasma membrane by direct allosteric interactions changing the messaging within the body.

Bio: Dr. Kevin Spelman is a molecular biologist, phytochemist, and phytotherapist who has worked with medicinal plants in the field, in the clinic, and in research models including clinical human trials and preclinical models. As a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Health he researched cancer and discovered cannabimimetic ligands in Zanthoxylum spp. Dr. Spelman was a Marie Curie Research Fellow in the EU researching medicinal plants for malaria.