Plant-Derived Exosome-Like Nanovesicles: Current Progress and Prospects

Nai Mu,1,2,* Jie Li,3,* Li Zeng,4 Juan You,4 Rong Li,4 Anquan Qin,4 Xueping Liu,1 Fang Yan,3,5 Zheng Zhou1,2 1Department of Clinical Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Geriatric Diseases Institute of Chengdu, Department of Orthopedics, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Center for Medicine Research and Translation, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 5Geriatric Diseases Institute of Chengdu, Department of Geriatrics, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Fang Yan; Zheng Zhou, Tel +86 134 0849 8904 ; +86 182 0810 1005, Email fangyan@cdutcm.edu.cn; zhouzheng@nsmc.edu.cnAbstract: Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles, ranging in size from 30– 150nm, which can be derived from various types of cells. In recent years, mammalian-derived exosomes have been extensively studied and found to play a crucial role in regulating intercellular communication, thereby influencing the development and progression of numerous diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine has employed plant-based remedies for thousands of years, and an increasing body of evidence suggests that plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PELNs) share similarities with mammalian-derived exosomes in terms of their structure and function. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in the study of PELNs and their potential implications for human health. Specifically, we summarize the roles of PELNs in respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and other diseases. Furthermore, we have extensively investigated the potential shortcomings and challenges in current research regarding the mechanism of action, safety, administration routes, isolation and extraction methods, characterization and identification techniques, as well as drug-loading capabilities. Based on these considerations, we propose recommendations for future research directions. Overall, our review highlights the potential of PELNs as a promising area of research, with broad implications for the treatment of human diseases. We anticipate continued interest in this area and hope that our summary of recent findings will stimulate further exploration into the implications of PELNs for human health.Keywords: exosomes, nanocarriers, nanotherapeutics, plants, vesicles