Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >
Therapeutic potential of garlic-derived exosome like nanovesicles: challenge and opportunity
Received date: 2025-07-22
Accepted date: 2025-12-06
Online published: 2026-04-04
Supported by
Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran(IR.KUMS.AEC.1402.036)
Recent advancements in nanotechnology have catalyzed interest in exosome-like nanovesicles derived from garlic, exploring their potential therapeutic applications. This review assesses the therapeutic efficacy of garlic-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (GaELNVs), emphasizing their antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, alongside their utility in drug delivery systems. Synthesizing diverse studies, this review discusses methodologies for GaELNV isolation, characterization (including high-speed centrifugation, sequential centrifugation, and sucrose gradient purification), and application. GaELNVs exhibit notable therapeutic potential, evidenced by their capacity to mitigate brain inflammation, enhance cognitive function, improve glucose metabolism, and show minimal immunogenicity. These effects are attributed to their modulation of inflammatory cytokines and other molecular pathways. Moreover, GaELNVs demonstrate robust biocompatibility, stability in acidic environments, and efficient targeting capabilities. In conclusion, this review underscores the promising therapeutic applications of GaELNVs, particularly as a pioneering drug delivery system. However, further investigations are imperative to optimize clinical deployment and comprehensively elucidate their mechanisms of action.
Key words: garlic; nanovesicles; exosome; therapeutic; review
Masoumeh Amiri , Mozafar Khazaei , Tayebeh Sadat Tabatabai , Leila Rezakhani . Therapeutic potential of garlic-derived exosome like nanovesicles: challenge and opportunity[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(2) : 509 -516 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.022
| 1. | Banerjee S, Mukherjee PK, Maulik S. Garlic as an antioxidant: the good, the bad and the ugly. Phytother Res 2003; 17: 97-106. |
| 2. | Lanzotti V. The analysis of onion and garlic. J Chromatogr A 2006; 1112: 3-22. |
| 3. | Teng Y, Ren Y, Sayed M, et al. Plant-derived exosomal microRNAs shape the gut microbiota. Cell Host Microbe 2018; 24: 637-52.e638. |
| 4. | Zhang M, Wang X, Han MK, Collins JF, Merlin D. Oral administration of ginger-derived nanolipids loaded with siRNA as a novel approach for efficient siRNA drug delivery to treat ulcerative colitis. Nanomedicine 2017; 12: 1927-43. |
| 5. | Deng Z, Rong Y, Teng Y, et al. Broccoli-derived nanoparticle inhibits mouse colitis by activating dendritic cell AMP-activated protein kinase. Mol Ther 2017; 25: 1641-54. |
| 6. | Fang Z, Liu K. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles as oral drug delivery carriers. J Control Release 2022; 350: 389-400. |
| 7. | Warnecke A, Harre J, Staecker H, et al. Extracellular vesicles from human multipotent stromal cells protect against hearing loss after noise trauma in vivo. Clin Transl Med 2020; 10: e262. |
| 8. | Hadidi M, Karimabadi K, Ghanbari E, Rezakhani L, Khazaei M. Stem cells and exosomes: as biological agents in the diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Front Endocrinol 2023; 14: 1269266. |
| 9. | Rahmati S, Khazaei M, Abpeikar Z, Soleimanizadeh A, Rezakhani L. Exosome-loaded decellularized tissue: opening a new window for regenerative medicine. J Tissue Viability 2024; 33: 332-44. |
| 10. | Rahmati S, Karimi H, Alizadeh M, et al. Prospects of plant-derived exosome-like nanocarriers in oncology and tissue engineering. Hum Cell 2024; 37: 121-38. |
| 11. | Amiri M, Kaviari MA, Rostaminasab G, Barimani A, Rezakhani L. A novel cell-free therapy using exosomes in the inner ear regeneration. Tissue Cell 2024; 88: 102373. |
| 12. | Mu J, Zhuang X, Wang Q, et al. Interspecies communication between plant and mouse gut host cells through edible plant derived exosome-like nanoparticles. Mol Nutr Food Res 2014; 58: 1561-73. |
| 13. | Zhuang X, Teng Y, Samykutty A, et al. Grapefruit-derived nanovectors delivering therapeutic miR17 through an intranasal route inhibit brain tumor progression. Mol Ther 2016; 24: 96-105. |
| 14. | Wang B, Zhuang X, Deng ZB, et al. Targeted drug delivery to intestinal macrophages by bioactive nanovesicles released from grapefruit. Mol Ther 2014; 22: 522-34. |
| 15. | Farhat Z, Scheving T, Aga DS, et al. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of several garlic forms. Nutrients 2023; 15: 4099. |
| 16. | Zheng X, Zhu Y, Zhao Z, Chu Y, Yang W. The role of amino acid metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory diseases. Front Immunol 2023; 14: 1284133. |
| 17. | Zhao X, Yin F, Fu L, et al. Garlic-derived exosome-like nanovesicles as a hepatoprotective agent alleviating acute liver failure by inhibiting CCR2/CCR5 signaling and inflammation. Biomater Adv 2023; 154: 213592. |
| 18. | Meza-Rios A, Velazquez-Juarez G, Castellanos-Huerta I, et al. The beneficial effects of components of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in the poultry industry. Food Nutr Sci 2024; 15: 27-57. |
| 19. | Talib WH, Baban MM, Azzam AO, et al. Allicin and cancer hallmarks. Molecules 2024; 29: 1320. |
| 20. | Ankri S, Mirelman D. Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic. Microbes Infect 1999; 1: 125-9. |
| 21. | Strika I, Ba?i? Halilovi? A, Halilovi? N. Antimicrobial effects of garlic (Allium sativum L.). Bull Chem Technol Bosnia Herzeg 2016; 47: 17-20. |
| 22. | Agarwal KC. Therapeutic actions of garlic constituents. Med Res Rev 1996; 16: 111-24. |
| 23. | Choo S, Chin VK, Wong EH, et al. Antimicrobial properties of allicin used alone or in combination with other medications. Folia Microbiol 2020; 65: 451-65. |
| 24. | Martins N, Petropoulos S, Ferreira IC. Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of garlic (Allium sativum L.) as affected by pre- and post-harvest conditions: a review. Food Chem 2016; 211: 41-50. |
| 25. | Wallock-Richards D, Doherty CJ, Doherty L, et al. Garlic revisited: antimicrobial activity of allicin-containing garlic extracts against Burkholderia cepacia complex. PLoS One 2014; 9: e112726. |
| 26. | Amagase H, Milner JA. Impact of various sources of garlic and their constituents on 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene binding to mammary cell DNA. Carcinogenesis 1993; 14: 1627-31. |
| 27. | Hussain S, Jannu L, Rao A. Chemopreventive action of garlic on methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix of mice. Cancer Lett 1990; 49: 175-80. |
| 28. | Sumiyoshi H, Wargovich MJ. Chemoprevention of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in mice by naturally occurring organosulfur compounds. Cancer Res 1990; 50: 5084-7. |
| 29. | Sarvizadeh M, Hasanpour O, Naderi Ghale-Noie Z, et al. Allicin and digestive system cancers: from chemical structure to its therapeutic opportunities. Front Oncol 2021; 11: 650256. |
| 30. | Catanzaro E, Canistro D, Pellicioni V, Vivarelli F, Fimognari C. Anticancer potential of allicin: a review. Pharmacol Res 2022; 177: 106118. |
| 31. | ?igu AB, Moldovan CS, Toma V A, et al. Phytochemical analysis and in vitro effects of Allium fistulosum L. and Allium sativum L. extracts on human normal and tumor cell lines: a comparative study. Molecules 2021; 26: 574. |
| 32. | Tu G, Zhang YF, Wei W, et al. Allicin attenuates H2O2 induced cytotoxicity in retinal pigmented epithelial cells by regulating the levels of reactive oxygen species. Mol Med Rep 2016; 13: 2320-6. |
| 33. | Wang S, Ren D. Allicin protects traumatic spinal cord injury through regulating the HSP70/Akt/iNOS pathway in mice. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14: 3086-92. |
| 34. | Wang W, Du Z, Nimiya Y, Sukamtoh E, Kim D, Zhang G. Allicin inhibits lymphangiogenesis through suppressing activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. J Nutr Biochem 2016; 29: 83-9. |
| 35. | Chen L, Hong JY, So E, Hussin AH, Cheng WF, Yang CS. Decrease of hepatic catalase level by treatment with diallyl sulfide and garlic homogenates in rats and mice. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 1999; 13: 127-34. |
| 36. | Hirata R, Matsushita S. Reducing activity level of alliin. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 1996; 60: 484-5. |
| 37. | Ide N, Lau BH. Garlic compounds minimize intracellular oxidative stress and inhibit nuclear factor-κB activation. J Nutr 2001; 131: 1020S-6S. |
| 38. | Maslin DJ, Brown CA, Das I, Zhang XH. Nitric oxide — a mediator of the effects of garlic? Biochem Soc Trans 1997; 25: 408S. |
| 39. | Popov I, Blumstein A, Lewin G. Antioxidant effects of aqueous garlic extract. Arzneim-Forsch 1994; 44: 602-4. |
| 40. | Akullo JO, Kiage-Mokua BN, Nakimbugwe D, Kinyuru J. Phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts of two varieties of ginger and garlic. Heliyon 2023; 9: e18643. |
| 41. | Stabler SN, Tejani AM, Huynh F, Fowkes C. Garlic for the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; CD007653. |
| 42. | Schwingshackl L, Missbach B, Hoffmann G. An umbrella review of garlic intake and risk of cardiovascular disease. Phytomedicine 2016; 23: 1127-33. |
| 43. | Chiavarini M, Minelli L, Fabiani R. Garlic consumption and colorectal cancer risk in man: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr 2016; 19: 308-17. |
| 44. | Lee YM, Gweon OC, Seo YJ, et al. Antioxidant effect of garlic and aged black garlic in animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutr Res Pract 2009; 3: 156. |
| 45. | Jelodar Gholamali A, Maleki M, Motadayen M, Sirus S. Effect of fenugreek, onion and garlic on blood glucose and histopathology of pancreas of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Indian J Med Sci 2005; 59: 64-9. |
| 46. | Eidi A, Eidi M, Esmaeili E. Antidiabetic effect of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Phytomedicine 2006; 13: 624-9. |
| 47. | Liu CT, Sheen LY, Lii CK. Does garlic have a role as an antidiabetic agent? Mol Nutr Food Res 2007; 51: 1353-64. |
| 48. | Wang J, Zhang X, Lan H, Wang W. Effect of garlic supplement in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM): a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Food Nutr Res 2017; 61: 1377571. |
| 49. | Sundaram K, Mu J, Kumar A, et al. Garlic exosome-like nanoparticles reverse high-fat diet induced obesity via the gut/brain axis. Theranostics 2022; 12: 1220. |
| 50. | Wang X, Liu Y, Dong X, et al. peu-MIR2916-p3-enriched garlic exosomes ameliorate murine colitis by reshaping gut microbiota, especially by boosting the anti-colitic Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Pharmacol Res 2024; 200: 107071. |
| 51. | Zhou S, Huang P, Cao Y, Hua X, Yang Y, Liu S. Garlic-derived exosome-like nanovesicles-based wound dressing for Staphylococcus aureus infection visualization and treatment. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2024; 7: 1888-98. |
| 52. | ünsal N, Ko?ak Denizci P, Yilmaz H, ?ahin F, Yildirim Canpolat M. The apoptotic effect of garlic (Allium sativum) derived SEVs on different types of cancer cell lines in vitro. Turk J Biol 2024; 48: 182-91. |
| 53. | Liu B, Li X, Yu H, et al. Therapeutic potential of garlic chive-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles in NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory diseases. Theranostics 2021; 11: 9311. |
| 54. | Zhu Z, Liao L, Gao M, Liu Q. Garlic-derived exosome-like nanovesicles alleviate dextran sulphate sodium-induced mouse colitis via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and gut microbiota modulation. Food Funct 2023; 14: 7520-34. |
| 55. | ?zkan ?, Ko?ak P, Y?ld?r?m M, et al. Garlic (Allium sativum)-derived SEVs inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce caspase mediated apoptosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11: 14773. |
| 56. | Anusha R, Priya S. Dietary exosome-like nanoparticles: an updated review on their pharmacological and drug delivery applications. Mol Nutr Food Res 2022; 66: 2200142. |
| 57. | Sha A, Luo Y, Xiao W, et al. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles: a comprehensive overview of their composition, biogenesis, isolation, and biological applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25: 12092. |
| 58. | Markam R, Bajpai J, Bajpai A. Synthesis of ginger derived nanocarriers (GDNC) and study of in vitro release of 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) as an anti inflammatory drug. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2019; 50: 355-64. |
| 59. | Liu Y, Nie M, Li X, et al. Garlic-derived exosomes alleviate osteoarthritis through inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2025; 197: 518-33. |
| 60. | Ju S, Mu J, Dokland T, et al. Grape exosome-like nanoparticles induce intestinal stem cells and protect mice from DSS-induced colitis. Mol Ther 2013; 21: 1345-57. |
| 61. | Song H, Canup BS, Ngo VL, Denning TL, Garg P, Laroui H. Internalization of garlic-derived nanovesicles on liver cells is triggered by interaction with CD98. ACS Omega 2020; 5: 23118-28. |
| 62. | Yu C, Liu Y, Yu X, et al. Garlic derived exosome like nanovesicles: a promising natural nanotherapy for periodontitis via PHGDH/PI3K/AKT mediated metabolic and inflammatory regulation. Int J Nanomedicine 2025; 20: 5551-72. |
| 63. | Sharma V, Sinha ES, Singh J. Investigation of in vitro anti-cancer and apoptotic potential of garlic-derived nanovesicles against prostate and cervical cancer cell lines. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2024; 25: 575. |
| 64. | Rezakhani L, Fekri K, Rostaminasab G, Rahmati S. Exosomes: special nano-therapeutic carrier for cancers, overview on anticancer drugs. Med Oncol 2022; 40: 31. |
| 65. | Sundaram K, Teng Y, Mu J, et al. Outer membrane vesicles released from garlic exosome-like nanoparticles (GaELNs) train gut bacteria that reverse type 2 diabetes via the gut-brain axis. Small 2024; 20: 2308680. |
| 66. | Dad HA, Gu TW, Zhu AQ, Huang LQ, Peng LH. Plant exosome-like nanovesicles: emerging therapeutics and drug delivery nanoplatforms. Mol Ther 2021; 29: 13-31. |
| 67. | Chai M, Gao B, Wang S, et al. Leveraging plant derived nanovesicles for advanced nucleic acid based gene therapy. Theranostics 2025; 15: 324-39. |
| 68. | Barzin M, Bagheri AM, Ohadi M, Abhaji AM, Salarpour S, Dehghannoudeh G. Application of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles in drug delivery. Pharm Dev Technol 2023; 28: 383-402. |
| 69. | Shang A, Cao SY, Xu XY, et al. Bioactive compounds and biological functions of garlic (Allium sativum L.). Foods 2019; 8: 246. |
| 70. | Mu N, Li J, Zeng L, et al. Plant derived exosome like nanovesicles: current progress and prospects. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18: 4987-5009. |
/
| 〈 |
|
〉 |