Exosomes Isolated from Vegetables
Exosomes are small, naturally occurring nanoscale vesicles that play a critical role in intercellular communication. Isolated from vegetables, these exosomes (plant-based exosomes) contain DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids and offer unique therapeutic benefits. With evidence supporting their antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, vegetable-derived exosomes show great potential in biomedical and cosmetic applications.
At Creative Biostructure, we offer a wide variety of exosomes isolated from vegetables, enabling you to unlock the vast potential of plant-based resources for a wide range of applications.
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Exosomes Isolated from Vegetables: A Natural Frontier in Therapeutics and Skincare
Vegetable-derived exosomes are nanoscale vesicles secreted by plant cells, ranging in size from 30 to 150 nanometers. They are primarily isolated from vegetables such as ginger, garlic, broccoli, ginseng, and many others. These exosomes, like their animal counterparts, have a bilayer lipid membrane structure, but their chemical composition is different and uniquely tailored to plant biology. The contents of plant exosomes include plant-specific proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids (such as miRNAs and mRNAs) that contribute to their distinct biological activity.
While animal-derived exosomes play an important role in intercellular communication, plant-derived exosomes offer unique advantages due to their specific bioactive molecules, many of which are known to interact with human cells in beneficial ways. Recent research has highlighted the significant therapeutic potential of these plant-derived exosomes. For example, PNExo™ Exosome-Ginger have been found to support immune modulation and skin regeneration, while those from PNExo™ Exosome-Broccoli have demonstrated potential in promoting wound healing.
As an emerging field, the study and application of vegetable-derived exosomes offers exciting opportunities to provide natural alternatives to traditional therapeutic solutions while benefiting from the unique biological properties of plants. These exosomes have paved the way for new innovations in drug delivery systems, therapeutics, and skincare formulations.
Figure 1. Schematic illustration of exosome-like nanovesicle isolation from cabbage and the investigation of molecular functions (inflammation and apoptosis inhibition) and applications (drug delivery) of Cabex and Rabex. (You et al., 2021)
Applications of Exosomes Isolated from Vegetables
Therapeutics and Drug Delivery
Due to their ability to cross biological barriers and their natural cell-targeting properties, vegetable-derived exosomes can serve as carriers for drugs, small molecules, or genetic material (e.g., siRNA or miRNA) to specific cells or tissues. They have shown promise in cancer treatment by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation or enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents, and possess anti-inflammatory properties, as seen in exosomes derived from vegetables such as ginger.
Cosmetics and Skincare
The antioxidant and regenerative properties of vegetable-derived exosomes can be used in skincare products to protect against oxidative stress and promote skin rejuvenation. And their ability to promote cell proliferation and repair makes them useful in formulations for wound healing or scar reduction.
Agriculture
In agriculture, vegetable-derived exosomes act as natural signaling molecules that enhance plant growth by promoting cell-to-cell communication and triggering pathways that improve nutrient uptake and root development. Their biodegradable nature and bioactive properties also make them ideal for eco-friendly pest management, reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Case Studies on Exosomes Isolated from Vegetables
Case Study 1: Antioxidative effects of carrot-derived nanovesicles in cardiomyoblast and neuroblastoma cells
This study investigates Carex, a nanovesicle derived from carrots, as a potential biomaterial with antioxidant properties. Oxidative stress, which contributes to diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, often triggers apoptosis. Carex was isolated from carrots using size exclusion chromatography and ultrafiltration, and its properties were found to be similar to those of extracellular vesicles. It exhibited low cytotoxicity in both cardiomyoblasts (H9C2) and neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y), even at high concentrations. Carex demonstrated antioxidant activity by significantly reducing ROS generation and apoptosis in models of myocardial infarction and Parkinson's disease. It also inhibited the downregulation of key antioxidant molecules, including Nrf-2, HO-1 and NQO-1. With its antioxidant function and high production yield, Carex shows promise as a potential therapeutic for myocardial infarction and Parkinson's disease, highlighting the potential of plant-derived nanovesicles as novel drugs.
Figure 2. Antioxidative and apoptotic effect of Carex in H9C2 cardiomyoblasts. (A) Cells were supplemented with 1 × 1011 particles/mL of Carex by oxidative stress induction, using H2O2. Intracellular ROS levels: green, nuclei: blue. Scale bars: 100 μm. (B) Cells were supplemented with different concentrations of Carex for 1 d followed by H2O2 treatment. Cell viability was measured by a WST-1 assay. (C) Caspase-3 inhibition in H9C2 cells by Carex. (D–F) RT-PCR analysis of Nrf-2 (D), HO-1 (E), and NQO-1 (F) mRNA expression levels. (G) Western blot analysis of Nrf-2 and HO-1 protein expression levels. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (* p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001; n = 3). (Kim and Rhee, 2021)
Case Study 2: Celery (Apium graveolens L.) exosome-like nanovesicles as a new-generation chemotherapy drug delivery platform against tumor proliferation
This study explores the potential of celery exosome-like nanovesicles (CELNs) as a novel drug delivery vehicle. CELNs showed higher cellular uptake efficiency compared to other plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles, making them advantageous for drug delivery. They showed low toxicity and good biocompatibility in mouse models. When doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated in CELNs (CELNs-DOX), the engineered CELNs showed superior tumor treatment efficacy compared to conventional synthetic carriers such as liposomes, both in vitro and in vivo. This study highlights CELNs as a promising next-generation drug delivery system with distinct advantages over traditional carriers.
Figure 3. Distribution of celery exosome-like nanovesicles (CELNs) in mice. (A) DiR-labeled CELNs were injected via Caudal vein into mice, and the bioluminescent imaging was conducted at 24 and 48 h after Caudal vein injection. (C) DiR-labeled CELNs were intraperitoneally injected into mice, and the bioluminescent imaging was conducted at 24 and 48 h after intraperitoneal injection. (A, C) These images are representative of three times independent experiments (n = 9). (B, D) DiR signals were measured and imaged in mice, liver, heart, and kidney 24 h after injection. (Lu et al., 2023)
Advantages of Our Exosomes Isolated from Vegetables
- Small Size and High Penetration: Due to their nanoscale size, plant-derived exosomes can easily penetrate various tissues, making them ideal for therapeutic delivery.
- Physicochemical Stability: These exosomes maintain stability over a wide range of pH and temperature conditions, ensuring reliability in various applications.
- Ideal for Transdermal Delivery: With their liposomal structure, plant-derived exosomes provide an effective way to deliver active ingredients through the skin, improving cosmetic and medical treatments.
- Scalable Production: Plant-derived exosomes are easy to mass produce, making them cost-effective for large-scale applications.
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FAQs About Exosomes Isolated from Vegetables
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How are vegetable-derived exosomes isolated?
Vegetable-derived exosomes are primarily isolated through differential centrifugation followed by density gradient centrifugation. This process ensures the removal of contaminants and improves the purity of the isolated exosomes.
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What are the main advantages of vegetable-derived exosomes over animal-derived exosomes?
Vegetable-derived exosomes are more biocompatible, easier to produce, and present fewer ethical concerns than their animal-derived counterparts. Additionally, they offer unique therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and regenerative effects.
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Can vegetable exosomes be used for drug delivery?
Yes, vegetable-derived exosomes can act as natural carriers for targeted drug delivery. They are biodegradable, non-toxic, and capable of delivering drugs, genetic material, or bioactive molecules to specific tissues, offering potential in cancer therapy and other treatments.
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How are vegetable-derived exosomes used in skincare?
These exosomes are used in skincare for their antioxidant and regenerative properties. They protect against oxidative stress, increase collagen production, promote skin rejuvenation and support wound healing and scar reduction, making them valuable in anti-aging and repair formulations.
Contact us today to learn more about how our products can support your innovative applications.
References
- Cai H, Huang LY, Hong R, et al. Momordica charantia exosome-like nanoparticles exert neuroprotective effects against ischemic brain injury via inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase 9 and activating the Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13.
- Lu X, Han Q, Chen J, et al. Celery (Apium graveolens L.) exosome-like nanovesicles as a new-generation chemotherapy drug delivery platform against tumor proliferation. J Agric Food Chem. 2023;71(22):8413-8424.
- Kim DK, Rhee WJ. Antioxidative effects of carrot-derived nanovesicles in cardiomyoblast and neuroblastoma cells. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(8):1203.
- You JY, Kang SJ, Rhee WJ. Isolation of cabbage exosome-like nanovesicles and investigation of their biological activities in human cells. Bioactive Materials. 2021;6(12):4321-4332.
