What are Exosomes?

Raise your hand if you have heard of exosomes!

If so, you may be in the minority, as research has only recently begun to highlight the remarkable properties of these tiny particles.

So, what are exosomes? Produced by plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria, they are nanovesicles (30-150 nm) - hence microscopic extracellular vesicles - that can facilitate cell-to-cell communication.

These nanovesicles consist of proteins, fats, DNA, and mRNA containing valuable bio-active compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, such as Catalase, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbic acid, melatonin, phenolic compounds, and ATP.

How do exosomes act within the organism?

Exosomes thus act as a ‘vector’ for intercellular communication. They travel freely in the extracellular fluid to sites that may be distant from their cell of origin until they reach and penetrate the membrane of those target cells that will receive the information composed of part of the precious constituents of the cell of origin.

The discovery of these valuable properties has opened up new and interesting developments in many fields of application related to medical scientific research. Today, researchers are exploring how to use exosomes as vectors to transport proteins, therapeutic genes, and even drugs inside cells.

Stem cells, known for their regenerative abilities in various organs and tissues, also seem to owe this regenerative activity to exosomes, which can transport genetic material between cells and organs.

What is treatment with exosomes in aesthetic medicine? Benefits for skin and hair.

This ability of exosomes to carry important bioactive components into the cell tissue, greatly enhancing the bioavailability of the transported substances, is also an interesting potential for aesthetic and anti-aging medicine.

Treatment with exosomes today takes the form of direct application of the vesicles to the skin via microinjections or transdermal delivery devices. Additionally, the latest anti-aging creams and serums often include specific exosomes in their formulations. These exosomes seem to enhance the regeneration process of the epidermis, restore the skin barrier, and normalize cell renewal.

With their antioxidant and skin-regenerating action, exosomes promote collagen and elastin production, exerting an efficacious anti-inflammatory effect.

Treatments for baldness and alopecia can now also benefit from the use of exosomes, both of plant and human origin (from stem cells), which, administered directly into the scalp through microinjections, have proven to be very effective against inflammation of the epidermis and in promoting regeneration of the hair bulbs, stimulating their growth.

Plant exosomes: what they are, their properties, and their effect on health

Scientific studies suggest that plant exosomes - particularly those derived from fruit - can improve numerous cellular biological processes, including energy production and consumption, cellular turnover, and antioxidant defenses.

Therefore, these newly discovered nanovesicles are also starting to be used in the production of food supplements, as they represent a cutting-edge technology that offers numerous health benefits due to their properties and characteristics:

• Bioavailability: their lipid structure optimizes the absorption and bioavailability of their bioactive content;
• Protection: their structure safeguards the bioactive components;
• Natural origin: exosomes guarantee high safety and tolerability as they are derived from plants;
• Specificity: depending on the fruit of origin, each exosome carries different bioactive components, allowing for specific and targeted supplementation.

Exosomes in Supplements: a booster that improves bioavailability and efficacy

The peculiar structure of exosomes, consisting of a double lipid membrane, not only facilitates the transport of bioactive components by improving their bioavailability over time but also protects them from oxidation and degradation, guaranteeing their stability and thus making them more performant and usable in fields other than cosmetics. Areas, such as dietary supplementation and nutraceutics, in which research is often oriented towards probing the antioxidant effect of phytoextracts and substances of plant origin, as well as wanting to find new, increasingly effective solutions to make beneficial active ingredients extracted from plants immediately bioavailable to our organism.

Plant exosome-based supplements to reduce anxiety and insomnia

Very recent practical applications also in the nutraceutical field are using plant exosomes derived from fruit - apple, kiwi, orange, ginger, etc. - to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of those supplements specifically formulated to support the body in disorders involving oxidative stress and inflammation, such as insomnia or anxiety.

There is a close relationship between impaired sleep, high states of stress, and high levels of free radicals that, if not adequately balanced by our antioxidant system, cause premature aging. Poor sleep quality, jet lag, and frequent awakenings are symptoms of a variation in the circadian rhythm, which correlate with increased oxidative stress and a decrease in Melatonin production, an important hormone with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, typically produced at night.

Fruit-derived exosomes have a marked antioxidant effect against the excess free radicals that can accumulate due to increased stress from anxiety and insomnia. Therefore, they can be beneficial in compensating for increased levels of oxidative stress, acting in synergy with phytoextracts that promote relaxation and mental well-being, such as Lemon balm, or with substances that enhance sleep quality, such as Melatonin.

Plant exosome-based supplements for metabolic dysfunctions

Numerous experimental evidences have shown that obesity, particularly visceral obesity, is characterized by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation that contributes to the development of several complications such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

Therefore, plant exosome-based supplements with antioxidant properties can support the organism also in cases of metabolic dysfunctions, overweight, and obesity.