Cross-kingdom miRNA delivery by Panax notoginseng-derived extracellular–like nanoparticles vesicles restores neuronal function after ischemic injury

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) impermeability remains a major obstacle to the effective treatment of neurological disorders, particularly ischemic stroke. Here, we revealed that plant-derived extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles (PEVs) offer a promising strategy to overcome this barrier. Using an optimized high-yield extraction protocol, we isolated PEVs from four medicinal plants: Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng, Gastrodia elata, and Ligusticum chuanxiong. Among these, extracellular vesicles derived from Panax notoginseng (NotoEV, vesicle population) exhibited the strongest neuroprotective effects under hypoxic conditions in vitro and in vivo stroke models. Mechanistically, NotoEV delivered conserved plant microRNAs to recipient neurons, where they suppressed key stress granule nucleators GTPase-activating protein-binding protein 2 (G3bp2), Ubiquitin-associated protein 2 like (Ubap2l), and LSM14A mRNA processing body assembly factor (Lsm14a), activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, and promoted mitochondrial stabilization via the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/ Translocase Of Outer Mitochondrial Membrane 20 (TOM20) axis. This cross-kingdom RNA delivery reprogrammed neuronal stress responses, reduced infarct volume, preserved neuronal morphology, and restored electrophysiological function. Collectively, our findings establish a scalable platform for plant-based nanotherapeutics and highlight the translational potential of NotoEV in treating ischemic stroke.