Psychological stress disrupts the integrity of the intestinal barrier and is strongly linked to emotional disorders, behavioral changes, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. However, there are limited treatment options available for repairing the damage to the intestinal barrier. As a natural plant-based health beverage, tea (Camellia sinensis) has been shown to have various potentially advantageous effects on the intestinal barrier and immune function. In this study, we extracted bioactive molecules from tea leaves, named exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs), and then examined their potential protective properties for the intestinal barrier. Through in vitro experimentation, we investigated whether tea-derived ELNs (TELNs) could offer a protective effect against lipopolysaccharides-induced damage to the intestinal barrier. In an in vivo experiment, rats were exposed to water avoidance stress and subsequently administered TELNs orally. The administration of TELNs resulted in the enhancement of the epithelial barrier in the intestine, effectively preventing bacterial translocation to the submucosae. Additionally, TELNs were found to improve the function of the intestinal immune barrier through the mediation of interleukin-22 and the increased secretion of antimicrobial peptide Reg3g. Notably, miR-44 and miR-54 in TELNs exhibited similar protective effects on the intestinal barrier. These findings suggest that TELNs possess the ability to restore the integrity of the intestinal barrier in the context of psychological stress.

Introduction: Growing research is devoted to the development of plant-derived products as new therapeutic drugs to reduce side effects. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) have shown promising potential in the treatment of colitis. Methods: As a proof of concept, the efficacy of ELNs from edible Zanthoxylum bungeanum (ZbELNs) in protecting macrophages from inflammation was determined by in vitro experiments. Moreover, we assess the therapeutic effect of ZbELNs to colitis in a mouse model. Results: ZbELNs were found to have an ideal particle size (160.0 nm) and contain a large number of lipids, some functional proteins or metabolites, and many small RNA molecules. The in vitro experiment results revealed that ZbELN pretreatment increased cell vitality and decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments indicated that oral administration of ZbELNs can significantly reduce disease activity index, increase colon length, and inhibit colon wall thickening, thereby alleviating acute colitis in dextran sulfate sodium-induced model mice. In addition, ZbELN treatment can reduce the degree of histological damage in the colon and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in mice serum. Notably, miRNA-1 and miRNA-21 in ZbELNs showed similar therapeutic effects on macrophage inflammation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ZbELNs are a novel natural nanomedicine with promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of colonic diseases.

Background and Aim: Exosome‐like nanoparticles (ELNs) have emerged as crucial mediators of intercellular communication, evaluated as potential bioactive nutraceutical biomolecules. We hypothesized that oral ELNs have some therapeutic effect on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: In our study, ELNs from tea ( Camellia sinensis ) leaves were extracted by differential centrifugation. We investigated the role of ELNs by assessing visceral hypersensitivity, body weight, bowel habits, tight junctions, and corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) in rats subjected to water avoidance stress (WAS) to mimic IBS with and without ELNs (1 mg/kg per day) for 10 days. Results: The average diameter of ELNs from LCC, FD and MZ tea tree were 165 ± 107, 168 ± 94, and 168 ± 108 nm, the concentration of ELNs were 1.2 × 10 ¹³ , 1 × 10 ¹³ , and 1.5 × 10 ¹³ particles/mL, respectively. ELNs can be taken up by intestinal epithelial cells. In WAS rats, ELNs significantly restored weight, recovered tight junctions, decreased CRH, and CRH receptor 1 expression levels and inhibited abdominal hypersensitivity in comparison to positive control. Conclusions: Oral tea‐derived ELN improves symptoms of IBS by potentially modulating the CRH pathway.

Introduction: Iron is an essential microelement for animals, humans, and plants. Notably, approximately one-third of the world’s soils are alkaline, leading to iron deficiency. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of iron absorption and transport in plants is crucial for improving iron bioavailability in crops. Methods: In this research, reverse genetics was used to identify the transcription factor MYB30 as a positive regulator of the plant response to iron deficiency. Results and Discussion: Phenotype analysis demonstrated that MYB30 mutant plants were sensitive to iron deficiency, exhibiting reduced root length, lower chlorophyll content, and elevated lipid peroxidation, whereas MYB30 overexpression lines showed enhanced tolerance. Metabolomic analysis of myb30 plant roots by mass spectrometry indicated decreased antioxidant activity and detoxification capacity under iron-deficient conditions. Interestingly, 22 metabolic pathways were altered in the myb30 plant under iron deficiency. This metabolic reprogramming likely compromises plant growth. Furthermore, MYB30 reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation under iron deficiency stress by activating related genes and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity. In summary, metabolite analysis provides detailed molecular insights into plant iron deficiency stress and supports molecular genetic breeding efforts to improve mineral nutrition in crops.

Background: Recent research has increasingly focused on plant-derived products as potential alternatives to chemotherapeutic agents, aiming to reduce side effects. Among these, plant-derived nanovesicles (NVs) have garnered significant attention for their potential in treating colitis. Methods: In this study, we extracted NVs from the leaves (LNVs) and stems (SNVs) of Taxus, a well-known natural anti-cancer plant. The targeting ability of these NVs was evaluated in the mouse colon using an IVIS imaging system. Additionally, we assessed the therapeutic effects of these plant-derived NVs on ulcerative colitis in a mouse model. Results: Our findings reveal that the NVs exhibit an ideal vesicle size of 150.0 nm and contain a rich array of lipids, functional proteins, and bioactive small molecules. In vitro anti-inflammatory experiments demonstrated that both LNVs and SNVs enhanced cell viability and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Importantly, neither LNVs nor SNVs induced significant cytotoxicity. In vivo, oral administration of LNVs and SNVs ameliorated colitis-related symptoms in mice and accelerated colitis resolution by suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and reducing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, 16S rDNA sequencing data suggested that LNVs play a crucial role in regulating gut microbiota. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggest that plant-derived NVs from Taxus represent a promising novel natural nanomedicine for use as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of colonic diseases.