[Research progress on Chinese herbal medicine-derived exosome-like nanovesicles for treatment of ulcerative colitis]

Ulcerative colitis(UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, exhibits a globally increasing incidence. Current therapeutic strategies are limited by low drug bioavailability and systemic side effects. This study systematically explored the challenges posed by the unique gastrointestinal environment in UC patients for oral drug delivery, including extreme pH conditions, degradation by digestive enzymes, metabolism mediated by intestinal flora, and obstruction from the intestinal mucosal barrier. It further highlighted the potential of Chinese herbal medicine-derived exosome-like nanovesicles(CHMELNs) as a novel drug delivery system. CHMELNs, produced by plant cells of Chinese herbal medicines, primarily consist of proteins, RNA, lipids, and bioactive phytochemicals. They demonstrate advantages such as low immunogenicity, high stability, and inherent targeting capabilities. Their small particle size(30-500 nm), negative surface charge, and lipid bilayer membrane structure enable penetration through the intestinal mucus layer, resistance to extreme pH and enzymatic degradation, and adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells via electrostatic interactions. Engineered modifications of CHMELNs, such as surface functionalization or drug loading, significantly enhance their targeting efficacy and therapeutic outcomes. Animal and cellular experiments have demonstrated that CHMELNs alleviate UC by modulating intestinal flora, suppressing inflammatory pathways, and promoting mucosal repair. Future research should focus on systematic characterization, safety validation, scalable production, and multimodal combination therapies to advance clinical translation. CHMELNs not only provide an efficient delivery platform for UC treatment but also open new avenues for the modernization of TCM and the development of natural pharmaceuticals.