Nanovesicles derived from edible plants: a new player that contributes to the function of foods.

Nano-sized vesicles are ubiquitous in vegetables, fruits, and other edible plants. We have successfully prepared nanovesicles (NVs) from over 150 edible plants. These results suggest that the daily intake of NVs from various foods and their roles in food function are promising novel approaches for explaining the health-promoting properties of edible plants. These vesicles contain RNAs, including miRNAs, similar to extracellular NVs, which play pivotal roles in cell-cell communication. Intriguingly, NVs also contain phytochemicals such as polyphenols and carotenoids that are specific to each edible plant. In conclusion, these dietary NVs have the potential to serve as functional packages to deliver RNAs or phytochemicals to target cells across species from plants to humans.