Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an important type of active microvesicles. EVs encapsulate and transfer functional substances such as
miRNAs,
transcription factors and
proteins, which are important vectors for
cell communication and organ dialogue. In recent years, studies have shown that quite a number of
Chinese medicinal herbs have the pharmacological effect of regulating EVs, and
play a unique trans-organ and remote
role in the
treatment of
diseases. Some
Chinese medicinal herbs also contain
plant-derived EVs themselves, which can be directly involved in the
treatment of
diseases. As one of the core theories of raditional
Chinese medicines (TCM),
Qi plays a variety of important
roles in the physiological and
pathological processes of
human body and
pharmacology. However, the scientific connotation of
Qi′s
role and the potential material carrier are still unclear. The latest
research suggests that the effect of EVs is potentially related to that of
Qi. Therefore, this
paper reviews the effect of
Qi nourishing
Chinese medicinal herbs in regulating EVs in the
treatment of
cardiovascular diseases,
nervous system diseases,
liver diseases, renal
diseases, malignant
tumors and other
diseases in recent years. EVs may
play an important
role in the pharmacological effect of some
Chinese medicinal herbs in the
treatment of
diseases as an intermediary substance. EVs have the characteristics of long-distance
transportation, which is consistent with the
movement of
Qi in TCM. EVs carry a variety of functional molecules, which is consistent with the function of
Qi. As the potential material basis of
Qi in TCM, the function of EVs is worth further study.