The exogenous mature plant miRNAs in food can pass through gastrointestinal (GI) tract and enter the sera and organs. (A) The levels of MIR168a, MIR156a, and MIR166a detected by qRT-PCR in fresh rice and chow diet (n = 6). Two endogenous animal miRNAs, miR-16, and miR-150, served as controls (insert). UD, undetectable. (B, C) The levels of MIR168a in mouse serum (B) and liver (C) after feeding with fresh rice or chow diet for 0.5 h, 3 h, or 6 h (n = 8). The control group (named 0 h) was euthanized after a 12-h of fasting. (D, E) The levels of MIR168a in mouse serum (D) and liver (E) following gavage feeding with RNA extracted from fresh rice (n = 8). After 0.5 h, 3 h, or 6 h, MIR168a levels were detected by qRT-PCR. The control group (0 h) was euthanized after a 12-h of fasting. (F, G) The levels of MIR168a in mouse serum (F) and liver (G) following gavage feeding with synthetic MIR168a and synthetic methylated MIR168a (n = 8). The control group was gavage fed with ncRNA. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.