Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting properties

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs), emerging as novel bioactive agents, exhibit significant potential in food science and nutritional health. These nanoparticles, enriched with plant-specific biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and secondary metabolites, demonstrate u...

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Main Authors: Ke Che, Cong Wang, Hao Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1544746/full
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author Ke Che
Cong Wang
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
author_facet Ke Che
Cong Wang
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
author_sort Ke Che
collection DOAJ
description Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs), emerging as novel bioactive agents, exhibit significant potential in food science and nutritional health. These nanoparticles, enriched with plant-specific biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and secondary metabolites, demonstrate unique cross-species regulatory capabilities, enabling interactions with mammalian cells and gut microbiota. PDENs enhance nutrient bioavailability by protecting sensitive compounds during digestion, modulate metabolic pathways through miRNA-mediated gene regulation, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. For instance, grape-derived PDENs reduce plasma triglycerides in high-fat diets, while ginger-derived nanoparticles alleviate colitis by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, PDENs serve as natural drug carriers, with applications in delivering therapeutic agents like doxorubicin and paclitaxel. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in standardizing extraction methods (ultracentrifugation, immunoaffinity), ensuring stability during food processing and storage, and evaluating long-term safety. Current research highlights the need for optimizing lyophilization techniques and understanding interactions between PDENs and food matrices. Furthermore, while PDENs show promise in functional food development—such as fortified beverages and probiotic formulations—their clinical translation requires rigorous pharmacokinetic studies and regulatory clarity. This review synthesizes existing knowledge on PDENs’ composition, biological activities, and applications, while identifying gaps in scalability, stability, and safety assessments. Future directions emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration to harness PDENs’ potential in combating metabolic disorders, enhancing food functionality, and advancing personalized nutrition strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-cbc6d88898eb412bbdd228de3b21a6e22025-08-20T03:02:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-03-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15447461544746Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting propertiesKe Che0Cong Wang1Hao Chen2Hao Chen3Hao Chen4Hao Chen5College of Food Engineering, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, ChinaCenter for Molecular Metabolism, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, ChinaCollege of Food Engineering, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, ChinaCollege of Life and Health Sciences, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, ChinaPlanting Department, Jiuhua Huayuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Chuzhou, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaPlant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs), emerging as novel bioactive agents, exhibit significant potential in food science and nutritional health. These nanoparticles, enriched with plant-specific biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and secondary metabolites, demonstrate unique cross-species regulatory capabilities, enabling interactions with mammalian cells and gut microbiota. PDENs enhance nutrient bioavailability by protecting sensitive compounds during digestion, modulate metabolic pathways through miRNA-mediated gene regulation, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. For instance, grape-derived PDENs reduce plasma triglycerides in high-fat diets, while ginger-derived nanoparticles alleviate colitis by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, PDENs serve as natural drug carriers, with applications in delivering therapeutic agents like doxorubicin and paclitaxel. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in standardizing extraction methods (ultracentrifugation, immunoaffinity), ensuring stability during food processing and storage, and evaluating long-term safety. Current research highlights the need for optimizing lyophilization techniques and understanding interactions between PDENs and food matrices. Furthermore, while PDENs show promise in functional food development—such as fortified beverages and probiotic formulations—their clinical translation requires rigorous pharmacokinetic studies and regulatory clarity. This review synthesizes existing knowledge on PDENs’ composition, biological activities, and applications, while identifying gaps in scalability, stability, and safety assessments. Future directions emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration to harness PDENs’ potential in combating metabolic disorders, enhancing food functionality, and advancing personalized nutrition strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1544746/fullplant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs)food nutrition and healthbioactive componentsstabilityfunctional foods
spellingShingle Ke Che
Cong Wang
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
Hao Chen
Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting properties
Frontiers in Nutrition
plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs)
food nutrition and health
bioactive components
stability
functional foods
title Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting properties
title_full Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting properties
title_fullStr Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting properties
title_full_unstemmed Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting properties
title_short Advancing functional foods: a systematic analysis of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their health-promoting properties
title_sort advancing functional foods a systematic analysis of plant derived exosome like nanoparticles and their health promoting properties
topic plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs)
food nutrition and health
bioactive components
stability
functional foods
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1544746/full
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