Research progress on plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles in regulating and promoting tissue repair

BACKGROUND: Plant-derived exosomes or exosome-like nanovesicles (PELNVs) constitute a distinct branch within the broader exosome concept. As natural nanocarriers, PELNVs hold considerable therapeutic potential in tissue repair and regenerative medicine, offering multiple advantages such as moderate biocompatibility, potentially lower immunogenicity, and the intrinsic bioactivity of medicinal plants. Furthermore, PELNVs overcome several limitations associated with mammalian-derived exosomes, including low yield, high production costs, potential safety concerns, and the risk of autologous rejection. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to review current progress in the field by systematically examining literature encompassing nearly 30 plant species analyzed in depth. The review summarizes recent findings regarding the role of PELNVs in promoting tissue repair, including wound healing, bone regeneration, neuroprotection, and related applications. These findings are categorized according to plant species and mechanisms of repair, enabling a critical evaluation of the therapeutic effects of PELNVs across different organ systems. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search and analysis were conducted based on approximately 73 publications retrieved from PubMed and Medline, spanning the period from 2020 to June 2026. Keywords related to plant- and herb-derived exosomes, nanoparticles, and vesicles were combined with terms pertaining to tissue repair. The analysis focused primarily on in vitro and in vivo studies investigating PELNVs in tissue repair. Key aspects examined included plant species, vesicle isolation methods, target cells, and therapeutic outcomes. In addition, high-impact references published between 2020 and 2026 were incorporated to contextualize these findings within the broader biomedical literature. Subsequently, mechanistic pathways and application domains were systematically organized and analyzed. CONCLUSION: PELNVs may represent a promising frontier in regenerative medicine and tissue repair, demonstrating significant potential as wound-healing accelerators, anti-inflammatory agents, and microRNA delivery vehicles. However, limited long-term toxicological and immunogenicity data currently preclude firm conclusions regarding safety and clinical readiness. Further research is required to standardize large-scale production methods and elucidate the precise mechanisms of action, ultimately facilitating the clinical translation of plant-based nanotherapeutics.