Human microvesicles are key mediators of cell–cell communication. Exosomes function as microRNA transporters, playing a crucial role in physiological and pathological processes. Plant microvesicles (MVs) display similar features to mammalian exosomes, and these MVs might enhance plant microRNA delivery in mammals. Considering that plant microRNAs have been newly identified as bioactive constituents in medicinal plants, and that their potential role as regulators in mammals has been underlined, in this study, we characterized MVs purified from Moringa oleifera seeds aqueous extract (MOES MVs) and used flow cytometry methods to quantify the ability to deliver their content to host cells. The microRNAs present in MOES MVs were characterized, and through a bioinformatic analysis, specific human apoptosis-related target genes of plant miRNAs were identified. In tumor cell lines, MOES MVs treatment reduced viability, increased apoptosis levels associated with a decrease in B-cell lymphoma 2 protein expression and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Interestingly, the effects observed with MOES MVs treatment were comparable to those observed with MOES treatment and transfection with the pool of small RNAs isolated from MOES, used as a control. These results highlight the role of microRNAs transported by MOES MVs as natural bioactive plant compounds that counteract tumorigenesis.

人类微泡是细胞间通讯的关键介质。外泌体作为 microRNA 转运蛋白，在生理和病理过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。植物微泡 (MV) 显示出与哺乳动物外泌体相似的特征，这些 MV 可能会增强哺乳动物中植物 microRNA 的递送。考虑到植物 microRNA 已被新鉴定为药用植物中的生物活性成分，并且它们作为哺乳动物调节剂的潜在作用已得到强调，在本研究中，我们对从辣木种子水提取物 (MOES MV) 中纯化的 MV 进行了表征，并使用流式细胞术量化将其内容物递送至宿主细胞的能力的方法。对 MOES MV 中存在的 microRNA 进行了表征，并通过生物信息分析，鉴定了植物 miRNA 中与人类凋亡相关的特定靶基因。在肿瘤细胞系中，MOES MV 治疗降低了活力，增加了与 B 细胞淋巴瘤 2 蛋白表达减少相关的细胞凋亡水平，并降低了线粒体膜电位。有趣的是，用 MOES MV 处理观察到的效果与用 MOES 处理和用从 MOES 分离的小 RNA 池转染（用作对照）观察到的效果相当。这些结果强调了 MOES MV 运输的 microRNA 作为天然生物活性植物化合物对抗肿瘤发生的作用。