Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Introduction: Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) are nano-sized vesicles released by plant cells. They contain a lipid bilayer membrane and carry bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and secondary metabolites. Due to their low toxicity and natural drug delivery potential, they have gained attention for therapeutic applications. Plant extracts are also rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids with known antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. The rising problem of antibiotic resistance in pathogens like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes has created an urgent need for new natural agents.
Aim: This study aimed to isolate and characterize exosomes from ginger, lavender, onion, and lemon, and to compare their antioxidant and antibacterial activities with those of aqueous extracts from the same plants.
Materials and methods: Fresh ginger, lavender, onion, and lemon were used for the preparation of plant extracts and exosome isolation. For aqueous extraction, 2 g of ginger and lavender samples were homogenized with 20 mL of distilled water and incubated in a water bath at 70°C for 90 minutes. The mixtures were centrifuged at 3000 × g for 10 minutes, and the supernatants were filtered and stored at 4°C until analysis. Exosomes were isolated using the Exosun Exosome Isolation Kit (EXOSUN Company). Plant materials were homogenized, filtered, and subjected to differential centrifugation. The resulting supernatants were processed according to the manufacturer's instructions using buffers A and B. Due to the acidic nature of lemon juice, modification of the protocol was required by increasing the concentration of buffer A to facilitate exosome precipitation. Protein concentration of isolated exosomes was determined using the Bradford assay with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the standard. Exosome morphology was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antioxidant activity of extracts and exosomes was evaluated using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Samples were analyzed in 96-well microplates, and absorbance was measured at 570 nm. Antibacterial activity was assessed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes using the disk diffusion method. Sterile blank disks were impregnated with plant extracts or exosome preparations at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL and placed on Mueller-Hinton agar plates inoculated with bacterial suspensions adjusted to a 0.5 McFarland standard. Gentamicin and vancomycin served as positive controls. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined using the broth microdilution method in 96-well microplates. All experiments were performed in triplicate. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27, applying one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test, with p <0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: TEM confirmed successful isolation of exosome-like vesicles from all plants. Bradford assay indicated protein-containing nanoparticles. FRAP analysis showed that lavender had the highest antioxidant capacity. Plant extracts generally showed greater antioxidant activity than their corresponding exosomes. Antibacterial testing revealed that exosomes from all four plants had no detectable antibacterial effect. Similarly, aqueous extracts of ginger, lavender, and onion showed no inhibition. However, lemon extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity against all three bacteria. MIC values of lemon extract were 3.12 mg/mL for S. aureus, 6.25 mg/mL for S. pyogenes, and 50 mg/mL for E. coli. Inhibition zones for S. aureus reached 22 mm at 100 mg/mL. Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative E. coli.
Discussion:The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has increased the need for new treatments. In this study, exosomes isolated from ginger, lavender, onion, and lemon showed no antibacterial activity, while among aqueous extracts, only lemon extract displayed good antibacterial properties. The lack of activity in aqueous lavender extract compared to alcoholic extracts in previous reports may be due to solvent differences affecting phenolic compound extraction. Aqueous ginger extract also showed no effect, which contrasts with some alcoholic extracts. However, lavender exosomes demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity among all samples, highlighting their potential for antioxidant applications.
Conclusion: Although plant-derived exosomes from these four species did not show antibacterial effects under the tested conditions, lemon aqueous extract exhibited promising antimicrobial activity, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. Lavender exosomes showed the strongest antioxidant potential. These findings suggest that lemon extract could serve as a natural antibacterial agent, while lavender-derived exosomes and extracts may be valuable sources of natural antioxidants. Further in vivo studies are needed to explore their efficacy and safety.

Abstract Introduction: Metal nanoparticles exhibit a broad range of properties and have made substantial contributions to the field of biomedicine, particularly concerning targeted drug delivery systems. These nanoparticles function effectively as carriers for a variety of therapeutic agents, including but not limited to antibodies, nucleic acids, chemotherapeutic agents, and peptides. Metals such as silver, gold, zinc, copper, and cerium display remarkable optical characteristics that augment their functional capabilities. Furthermore, their surfaces can be readily modified via hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, or electrostatic interactions, facilitating their application with bioactive molecules for specific targeting endeavors. The advancement of numerous nanomedicines aimed at tumor treatment has underscored the potential of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) as a viable therapeutic agent in oncological therapy. Empirical studies suggest that CONPs possess cytotoxic properties against neoplastic cells, inhibit their invasiveness, and enhance their susceptibility to radiation and chemotherapeutic interventions. Additionally, CONPs exhibit minimal toxicity to healthy tissues and contribute to the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Xanthium strumarium, despite its high toxicity, is acknowledged for its medicinal properties. All constituents of the plant contain toxic compounds in varying concentrations and are utilized in the treatment of various ailments, including malaria, cancer, rheumatism, arthritis, tuberculosis, and respiratory allergies, in addition to their analgesic effects. Its roots, fruits, leaves, and other aerial parts possess significant medicinal value. The technique of green synthesis, which employs natural extracts, is utilized for the production of metal or metal oxide nanoparticles.
Aim:The objective of this research is to examine the impact of cerium oxide nanoparticles synthesized through sol-gel and green synthesis techniques utilizing Xanthium strumarium extract on MDA-MB-231 cancer cells.
Materials and Methods: For the green synthesis approach, Zardineh plants, specifically Xanthium classified under the strumarium category with the ALUH 38785 code, were collected from regions adjacent to the Alborz mountains. The leaves of the plant were separated and ground into a fine powder. The resulting powder was extracted and purified using a reflux method. This extract served as a reducing agent for cerium nitrate metal ions. In the sol-gel method, cerium nitrate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide were used. Characterization of the nanoparticles was conducted using FTIR, EDAX, SEM, and AFM techniques. Furthermore, the MTT assay was used to assess and compare the cytotoxic effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles synthesized on MDA-MB-231 cancerous cells.
Results: AFM analysis indicated that the size of the green synthesized nanoparticles was 10 and Sol-gel method nanoparticles were 13 nm. SEM and EDAX analysis revealed that the synthesized cerium nanoparticles exhibited a nearly spherical shape, with those produced via the sol-gel method showing uniform accumulation and dispersion. The MTT assay results demonstrated that the cytotoxic effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles synthesized on MDA-MB-231 cancerous cells increased with both time and concentration. Notably, the lethal effect of nanoparticles synthesized through the green method was found to be more pronounced than nanoparticles produced via the sol-gel method.
Conclusion: Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) exert toxicity in cancerous cells, inhibit invasion, and enhance the sensitivity of cancerous cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The green synthesis method uses biological extracts, such as plant materials, in place of industrial chemical agents to reduce metal ions and generate valuable nanoparticles. This approach offers several advantages over traditional chemical synthesis, including cost-effectiveness, reduced environmental pollution, and improved safety for both the environment and human health.

Abstract Aim:This study was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of Ocimum basilicum and Impatiens walleriana aqueous extract on the gastric cancer of AGS cell line.
Material and methods: FRAP method was used to measure the antioxidant activity of Ocimum basilicum and Ipatiems walleriana extracts. After preparation of O. basilicum and I. walleriana aqueous extract, we measured the anticancer effect on growth of AGS cancer cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours by MTT.
Results: The highest antioxidant activity of O. basilicum and I. walleriana  was measured by FRAP method for water solvent and water bath extraction method, which in O. basilicum was

0.778 ± 0.11 mM and in I.walleriana  1.30 ± 0.03 mM. Based on the obtained data of the MTT test, the highest toxicity of the extract occurs 72 hours after adding the extract to the cells. The lowest amount of IC50 of the aqueous extract of O. basilicum was measured at 0.012 ± 0.002 mg / ml and in I. walleriana extract was 2.87 ± 0.001 mg / ml., which had a significant difference ( p <0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the anticancer study of the aqueous extract of O. basilicum and I. walleriana indicate that these plants have a cytotoxicity effect in the higher concentrations and need a long duration for their effects.