Buckwheat-derived Exosome Research and Application

Buckwheat is an essential cereal with medicinal properties, including hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antitumor, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. With the increased development and research of buckwheat-based foods and nutraceuticals, buckwheat-derived exosomes have also shown broad application and translational value. Creative Biolabs can provide a comprehensive range of research services related to buckwheat-derived exosomes, with our specialized insights into cereal-derived exosomes and proven technology platforms.

Components of Buckwheat-derived Exosomes

The active components in common buckwheat-derived exosomes mainly include a variety of bioactive substances.
Flavonoids. Rutin is the main component of flavonoids in buckwheat. Different parts of buckwheat vary in their flavonoid content, which may affect the flavonoid content in their source exudates. Typically, the flavonoid content of flowers and leaves is much higher than that of stems and roots. Exosomes from buckwheat sources may carry flavonoids including flavonols, flavones, and dihydroflavones.
Phytosterols. Steroidal compounds that have been identified from buckwheat include β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol peroxide, and cholesterol.
Alkaloids (e.g., caffeine and purines). Buckwheat-derived exosomes may also contain small amounts of alkaloids from their donors, such as buckwheat alkaloids, nicotinamide, and salicylamide.
Organic acids and esters. A large number of aromatic organic acids and ester compounds in buckwheat, including benzoic acid, catechetic acid, salicylic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and stearic acid, may also be encapsulated into the exosomes during the formation of buckwheat exosomes.
Buckwheat proteins. Buckwheat is rich in proteins including albumin, alcohol soluble proteins, and globulins.
Other compounds. More compounds that may be contained in buckwheat and its exosomes are still being explored, such as vitamin B, vitamin E, resveratrol, eugenol, and essential amino acids.

Features of Buckwheat-derived Exosomes

Nanoscale size. The nanoscale size of buckwheat-derived exosomes allows them to cross physiologic barriers, including the intestinal barrier, and thus exert a wide range of effects on the organism.
Biocompatibility. Buckwheat-derived exosomes are produced from edible grains, making them naturally histocompatible with the human body, and without significant immune rejection.
Plasticity. Buckwheat-derived exosomes can also be further modified and engineered to achieve specific functions, such as precise delivery of drug molecules to the target site to reduce side effects.

Functions and Research Potential of Buckwheat and Derived Exosomes

Improvement of digestive system status. A study found that the oral administration of buckwheat to high-fat-fed mice, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related physiological and biochemical indicators were significantly improved. In-depth studies of buckwheat exosomes or other buckwheat components can identify the key role of their components in this process.
Regulation of metabolism. Buckwheat was able to rescue the high-fat feeding-induced reduction of short-chain fatty acids in the mice's feces, and enhance the level of bile acids. Hepatic metabolomics showed that this is achieved through buckwheat regulation of the pentose phosphate pathway and related metabolic and synthetic pathways. Given that buckwheat-derived exosomes have also been found to be able to increase fecal short-chain fatty acid levels in mice to enhance digestion, it is also very promising to verify the function of buckwheat-derived exosomes in this regard.
Remodeling the gut microbiota. High-throughput sequencing and heat map results demonstrated that buckwheat significantly remodeled the gut microbiota in mice and regulated the expression of genes related to hepatic lipid metabolism. This suggests that the effect of buckwheat-derived exosomes on the intestinal flora of mice is also worth exploring.
Antioxidant and anticancer effects. Buckwheat with rich vitamins, buckwheat protein, and functional organic acids and esters are very likely to be secreted into the buckwheat source exosomes, making the buckwheat exosomes the antioxidant and anticancer efficacy of research value.

Fig. 1 Common buckwheat has been found to have a positive role in metabolism.¹

With the continuous improvement and application of exosome isolation, purification, and profiling techniques, attention to cereal exosomes, including those of buckwheat origin, has increased. Creative Biolabs has a standing commitment to providing research services related to buckwheat-derived exosomes, supporting clients in conducting research on buckwheat-derived exosomes, and utilizing related resources. Please contact us with your interest.

Reference

Huang, Zi-Rui, et al. "Protective Mechanism of Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated with dyslipidemia in mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet." Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 68.24 (2020): 6530-6543.

Plant Exosome Isolation