Drought has a detrimental effect on crop production, affecting economically important plants’ growth rates and development. Catharanthus roseus is an important medicinal plant that produces many pharmacologically active compounds, some of which have significant antitumor activity. The effect of bulk salicylic acid (SA) and salicylic acid nanoparticles (SA-NPs) were evaluated on water-stressed Catharanthus roseus plants. The results showed that SA and SA-NPs alleviated the negative effects of drought in the treated plants by increasing their shoot and root weights, relative water content, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, and total alkaloids percentage. From the results, a low concentration (0.05 mM) of SA-NPs exerted positive effects on the treated plants, while the best results of the bulk SA were recorded after using the highest concentration (0.1 mM). Both treatments increased the expression level of WRKY1, WRKY2, WRKY40, LEA, and MYC2 genes, while the mRNA level of MPKK1 and MPK6 did not show a significant change. This study discussed the importance of SA-NPs in the induction of drought stress tolerance even when used in low concentrations, in contrast to bulk SA, which exerts significant results only at higher concentrations.

Background: Exosomes have recently attracted significant attention for their potential in drug delivery. Plant-derived exosomes, in particular, may serve as direct anticancer agents due to their unique characteristics, including immunogenicity, biocompatibility, safety, cell-free nature, and nanoscale structure. Methods: This study characterizes Persea americana (avocado)-derived exosomes, exploring their anticancer properties, proteomic profile, and therapeutic potential. Results: Isolated exosomes exhibited a diameter of 99.58 ± 5.09 nm (non-loaded) and 151.2 ± 6.36 nm (doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded), with zeta potentials of −17 mV and −28 mV, respectively. Proteomic analysis identified 47 proteins, including conserved exosome markers (GAPDH, tubulin) and stress-response proteins (defensin, endochitinase). Functional enrichment revealed roles in photosynthesis, glycolysis, ATP synthesis, and transmembrane transport, supported by protein–protein interaction networks highlighting energy metabolism and cellular trafficking. DOX encapsulation efficiency was 18%, with sustained release (44.4% at 24 h). In vitro assays demonstrated reduced viability in breast cancer (MCF-7, T47D, 4T1) and endothelial (C166) cells, enhanced synergistically by DOX (Av+DOX). Gene expression analysis revealed cell-specific modulation: Av+DOX upregulated TP53 and STAT in T47D but suppressed both in 4T1/C166, suggesting context-dependent mechanisms. Conclusions: These findings underscore avocado exosomes as promising nanovehicles for drug delivery, combining biocompatibility, metabolic functionality, and tunable cytotoxicity. Their plant-derived origin offers a scalable, low-cost alternative to mammalian exosomes, with potential applications in oncology and targeted therapy. Further optimization of loading efficiency and in vivo validation are warranted to advance translational prospects.

The Exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) are essential for both intra- and inter-kingdom communication. The presence and function of plant ELNs discharged into the environment remain unknown, despite their significant biological significance. In the present study, polymer precipitation method was used to isolate the ELNs from Actinidia deliciosa followed by characterization and antifungal activity evaluation against F. oxysporum, F. solani, and B. cinerea in the term of germination and density of fungal spores’ formation. Root-released EVs (extracellular vesicles) were found to have a size ranged from 30 to 150 nm, according to biophysical assessments using dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscope. Thirty-three unique proteins were identified using LC-MS/MS of ELNs. Several of these proteins are known to be associated with interactions between plants and microbes. The presence of multiple plant defense-related proteins in these EVs raises the possibility that they are important elements of plant immunity.

The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of the water extract of Persea americana Mill. (avocado fruit) and Annona cherimolia Mill (cherimoya leaf) on living cells. The antiproliferative properties of avocado fruit water extract (AFWE) and cherimoya leaf water extract (CLWE) were determined using four human cancer cell lines: lung (A549), liver (HepG-2), colon (HT-29) and breast (MCF-7). Cancer cells were incubated with 100 µg/ml of AFWE or CLWE for 48 hours, then the cell viability was measured using colorimetric tetrazolium cleavage test (MTT). Both extracts resulted in more than 90% mortality in treated cells. Vicia faba root tip assay was used to determine the effect of AFWE and CLWE on mitotic index (MI), Micronuclei (MN) formation rate and chromosomal abnormalities. Vicia faba roots were soaked in 100, 1250, 2500, 5000, 10000, 20000 µg/ml of AFWE or ALWE for 4 and 24 h. AFWE and CLWE were mitodepressive and resulted in a significant decrease of MI in a dose dependant manner. CLWE treatment resulted in a decrease in prophase cell percentage and an increase in MN & chromosomal abnormalities. On contrary, the prophase cell percentage was linearly increasing with the applied concentration without micronuclei formation in avocado treatment. Our results strongly indicate that avocado and cherimoya extracts were highly cytotoxic and mitodepressive on cancer and plant cells, respectively.

IN VITRO CYTOTOXIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS ON DIFFERENT HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES