MiRNAs dysregulation is frequently associated with human diseases suggesting their potential as targets for the development of novel therapies for several diseases.
Medicinal plants in the Mediterranean area has been used to treat diseases for centuries. Oral consumption of a plant-based diet may lead to the cross-kingdom transfer of plant-derived miRNAs in mammals.
Different studies provide evidence that miRNAs might act as new bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. Plant extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and shed micro-vesicles, are key mediators of cell–cell communication. Exosomes, which are one of the smallest EVs released from cells, have been shown to carry different nucleic acids, including plant miRNAs.