From food-medicine homology to clinical potential: Plant-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles for inflammation management

Dysregulated inflammation drives a broad spectrum of pathologies, from severe acute tissue damage to the progression of refractory chronic disorders. This far-reaching impact highlights the urgency of developing therapeutic avenues that can modulate inflammatory cascades throughout the disease continuum. Plant-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles (PDVLNs), sourced from edible and medicinal plants, are highly safe, encapsulate diverse bioactive components, remain stable within the gastrointestinal tract upon oral administration, and offer the advantage of being functionally modifiable, all of which render them a promising therapeutic platform for holistic inflammation management that aligns with the food-medicine homology (FMH) concept. In this review, we delineate the key stages and basic molecular pathways of inflammation, summarize recent advances in the biogenesis, isolation, characterization, and regulatory mechanisms of PDVLNs, followed by an overview of their applications in tackling inflammatory diseases under a full-cycle management scheme, aiming to accelerate the advancement of both fundamental research and clinical translation.