Herbal-Based Exosomal Drug Delivery System

Herbal-based exosomal drug delivery systems (H-Exo-DDS) represent a novel and promising strategy that merges the therapeutic potential of herbal medicines with the innate nanocarrier properties of exosomes. Exosomes are nanosized extracellular vesicles (30–150 nm) capable of transporting bioactive molecules, including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites across biological barriers, and they have been widely explored for enhancing drug delivery efficacy due to their biocompatibility and stability. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) from fruits, vegetables, and herbs exhibit low immunogenicity, enhanced safety, and environmental sustainability, making them attractive carriers for herbal bioactives and therapeutic agents. Isolation techniques such as differential ultracentrifugation, density gradients, size-exclusion chromatography, and ultrafiltration are adapted to extract exosomes from plant tissues, while drug loading methods including passive incubation, electroporation, and surface functionalization enable efficient encapsulation and controlled release. Mechanistically, H-Exo-DDS enhance bioavailability and cellular uptake of herbal compounds and can modulate cellular pathways, including immune responses and inflammation, through both cargo delivery and endogenous bioactive effects. Advantages of these systems include excellent biocompatibility, scalability from edible plant sources, and potential dual action of carrier plus intrinsic biological activity; however, challenges remain in standardizing isolation, ensuring reproducibility, evaluating pharmacokinetics, and navigating regulatory frameworks for clinical translation. Future research should focus on optimizing purification, validating therapeutic outcomes in vivo, and clarifying safety profiles to advance H-Exo-DDS toward clinical application.