PNExo™ Exosome-Purple cabbage(PNE-VL39)

Active Components and Functional Properties of Purple Cabbage

Purple cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra), a cruciferous vegetable widely consumed across the globe, is valued for its dense concentration of health-promoting phytochemicals. Scientific investigations have identified several major categories of bioactive compounds contributing to its physiological effects:

• Anthocyanins: Purple cabbage contains high levels of anthocyanins, ranging from 172.39 to 355 mg per 100 g fresh weight, significantly exceeding amounts found in other purple vegetables. These flavonoids possess strong antioxidant capacity, with free radical scavenging activity far superior to that of common flavonoids. Among the 32 identified anthocyanins, most are glycosylated and acylated cyanidin derivatives such as cyanidin-3-sophoroside conjugates. They help maintain redox balance, reduce oxidative stress, and alleviate UVB-induced skin damage by suppressing inflammatory mediators including prostaglandin E2 and histamine.
• Polyphenols, Flavonols, and Organic Acids: In addition to anthocyanins, purple cabbage provides a range of antioxidant molecules. Total polyphenol content is approximately 1.9873 mg GAE/g extract. Flavonols like quercetin and rutin exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and influence cellular signaling. Organic acids including caffeic, ferulic, and coumaric acids further support antioxidant defense by reducing lipid peroxidation and enhancing enzymatic activity.
• Glucosinolates and Sulfur Compounds: Purple cabbage is rich in glucosinolates that convert into isothiocyanates, compounds studied for their ability to inhibit abnormal cell growth and activate detoxification enzymes. These sulfur-containing metabolites also contribute to gut microbial balance and digestive health.
• Vitamins, Minerals, and Nutrients: The vegetable provides essential micronutrients such as vitamin C, K, A, B-group vitamins, and minerals like potassium, calcium, and iron. These elements support collagen formation, skin integrity, and metabolic function. Its fiber content further promotes gastrointestinal health and metabolic regulation.

What Are Purple Cabbage-Derived Exosomes?

Purple cabbage-derived exosomes are nanoscale vesicles naturally secreted by Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra cells. These plant-origin vesicles typically range in size around 100 nanometers and are composed of lipid bilayers that encapsulate diverse bioactive molecules such as small RNAs, proteins, and metabolites. They can be efficiently isolated using refined techniques involving size-exclusion chromatography combined with ultrafiltration, yielding high-purity preparations with minimal contaminants. Notably, these vesicles can be internalized by human cells and localize within the cytoplasm, enabling the transfer of their molecular cargo and modulation of cellular behavior. This indicates their potential as functional biological agents in cross-kingdom communication.

TEM Analysis of Exosome-like Nanovesicles from Purple Cabbage. (You J Y, et al., 2021)

Advantages of Purple Cabbage-Derived Exosomes

• High Purity and Yield: Optimized isolation protocols allow for the extraction of large quantities of exosome-like vesicles from purple cabbage with excellent purity, avoiding common issues such as protein aggregation or vesicle degradation seen in other methods.
• Biocompatibility and Safety: As plant-derived nanovesicles originate from edible sources, they inherently lack animal-derived components and exhibit low cytotoxicity across various human cell lines, enhancing their suitability for biomedical and cosmetic research.
• Efficient Cellular Uptake: These vesicles have been shown to penetrate human skin and immune cells, demonstrating their ability to deliver molecular contents directly to intracellular targets without synthetic carriers.
• Cost-Effectiveness and Sustainability: Purple cabbage is inexpensive, widely cultivated, and easy to process, offering a scalable and economical alternative to mammalian cell-derived vesicles.
• Structural Stability: Their composition allows them to maintain integrity under acidic pH and moderate temperatures, supporting their use in formulations requiring environmental stability.

Potential Applications of Purple Cabbage-Derived Exosomes

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Purple Cabbage Exosomes

Studies indicate that purple cabbage exosomes can attenuate inflammatory responses in immune cells by reducing the expression of key cytokines and mediators, offering potential value in anti-inflammatory compound screening and skin care formulations.

Skin and Tissue Regeneration with Purple Cabbage-Derived Exosomes

The vesicles promote the proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, suggesting applications in wound healing models and tissue repair studies.

Apoptosis Inhibition by Plant-Based Exosome-Like Nanovesicles

When cells are exposed to stress conditions, these nanovesicles may mitigate apoptosis by influencing intracellular signaling pathways, positioning them as tools for cellular protection studies.

Purple Cabbage Exosomes as Natural Nanocarriers for Bioactive Delivery

Due to their internalization ability and biocompatible membrane structure, purple cabbage-derived vesicles are promising candidates for delivering small RNAs, peptides, or low molecular weight compounds into target cells.

Research in Plant-Based Nanomedicine

As part of the broader movement toward sustainable, plant-derived bioactives, these vesicles may serve as model systems for developing next-generation natural carriers and biomaterials.

References

1. You J Y, Kang S J, Rhee W J. Isolation of cabbage exosome-like nanovesicles and investigation of their biological activities in human cells. Bioactive Materials. 2021, 6(12): 4321-4332.
2. Cho J H, Hong Y D, Kim D, et al. Confirmation of plant-derived exosomes as bioactive substances for skin application through comparative analysis of keratinocyte transcriptome. Applied Biological Chemistry. 2022, 65(1): 8.
3. Liu Y, Ren C, Zhan R, et al. Exploring the potential of plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicle as Functional Food Components for Human Health: a review. Foods. 2024, 13(5): 712.
4. Abu T, Ezea B O, Yusuf S A, et al. Phytochemicals, proximate and elemental analysis, antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials of purple (Capitata F. rubra) and green (Capitata Linn.) Brassica oleraceae (cabbage). Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources. 2024, 21(2): 74-86.

Case Study 1: Biological Effects of Rabex from Red Cabbage (You J Y, 2021)

Red cabbage-derived nanovesicles (Rabex) were isolated with high purity using chromatography and ultrafiltration, exhibiting typical exosomal size (~100 nm) and negative surface charge. In cell studies, Rabex significantly promoted the proliferation of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts at 10 -100 μg/mL. It also showed anti-inflammatory effects by reducing IL-6, IL-1β, and COX-2 expression in LPS-treated macrophages, with IL-6 levels dropping below 30% of control at the highest dose. Additionally, Rabex protected HaCaT cells from chemically induced apoptosis by lowering caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cell ratios. These results highlight Rabex as a stable, plant-based vesicle with potential in inflammation regulation and cell protection research.

Figure 1. Dose-Dependent Anti-inflammatory Effects of Red Cabbage-Derived Nanovesicles (Rabex). Rabex treatment downregulated inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. mRNA expression levels were measured by RT-PCR.

Figure 2. Evaluation of Rabex as a Nanocarrier for Doxorubicin Delivery. Doxorubicin-loaded Rabex significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against SW480 cancer cells after 96 h compared to free drug or Rabex alone. Cell viability was assessed using a WST-1 assay. ***p < 0.001, n = 3.

References

1. You J Y, Kang S J, Rhee W J. Isolation of cabbage exosome-like nanovesicles and investigation of their biological activities in human cells. Bioactive Materials. 2021, 6(12): 4321-4332.

• Are purple cabbage exosomes safe to use in research?

  Yes, plant-derived exosomes like those from purple cabbage are generally considered safe for research. They avoid many concerns associated with animal-derived materials, such as viruses or immune reactions.

• What is the main benefit of using exosomes from plants instead of animals?

  The main benefits are their natural origin, cost-effectiveness, and reduced safety concerns. Plants offer a sustainable source without the ethical issues or potential contaminants found in animal-derived materials.

• Can purple cabbage exosomes be used for drug or RNA delivery?

  Yes. It has been used successfully to deliver small RNAs (e.g., microRNAs) and chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., doxorubicin) into human cancer cells. The vesicles show high loading efficiency and excellent delivery capacity, making them a promising natural carrier system for therapeutic cargo in research applications.

• Can these exosomes be stored for a long time?

  Yes, when properly prepared as a lyophilized powder, they can be stored at 4°C for extended periods. Frozen liquid forms need colder storage at -20°C to -80°C. Avoiding repeated freezing and thawing is key to maintaining their quality.

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