Abstract

PHYTOPHARMACEUTICAL A TOOL: - ENHANCEMENT OF ABSORPTION AND ORAL BIOAVAILABILITY OF HERBAL MEDICINE

Girjesh Vishwakarma* and Dr. Surendra Kumar Jain

ABSTRACT

The term phyto means plant while some means cell like. Phytosomes recently the emerging technology of drug delivery and drug targeting is also being applied to phytopharmaceuticals. The emerging technology of drug delivery is being applied to phytopharmaceuticals for the improvement of absorption and bioavailability of phytoconstitutes for herbal applications. Phytopharmaceuticals are healing the world from thousands of years even though their clinical validation is questioned by virtue of their impediments like low lipid solubility, poor stability, large size moiety and needless metabolism in gut. Phytosome is a complex of a natural active ingredient and phospholipids most of bioactive constituents of phytocontitute are aqueous soluble compounds like flavonoids for the reason that of water solubility and lipophilic outer layer, phytosome shows better absorption, hence produces better bioavailability. This review highlights the unique properties of phytophospholipid complex along with their application in the novel natural drug delivery. Various methods employed in phytosomal preparation and characterization along with the phytosomal advantages over conventional herbal extracts is described in the present review. The prospectus of phytosome technique can suggest new directions and endless frontier as novel drug regimen.

Keywords: Phytosome, Bioavailability, Absorption, Drug Delivery.