Abstract

PHYTO-PHOSPHOLIPID COMPLEX (PHYTOSOME) FOR HERBAL EXTRACT PHYTOCOSTITUNTS

Manoj Mahto*, Nitin Sharma, Shahrukh and Md. Shahnawaz Alam

ABSTRACT

India is known for its ancient knowledge in Ayurveda and the traditional practice of herbs, plants and their phytoconstituents to treat numerous acute and chronic disorders. Despite of their potential benefit in cure of disorders, these face certain limitations while delivery to the desired site of action. To overcome these limitations for in-vivo delivery of phytoconstituents, a phyto-phospholipids complex (phytosome) technology has been recently introduced in the field of Nanomedicines. Phytosome technology is more or less similar to liposomes but they differ from each other in various aspects. In phytosome hydrophilic nature of phytoconstituents formulated and encapsulated into lipophilic matrix to improve absorption and bioavailability of herbal medicines. This leads to greater therapeutic effect. From so many years research work has been directed toward the development of new concept for herbal drug delivery system and results is phytosome (novel herbal drug delivery system). In phytosomes, the phytoconstituents are complexed with phospholipids that helps to permeate the phytoconstituents from the lipid rich intestinal epithelial cell membrane and also protect the phytoconstituents from stomach secretion and gut bacteria to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties.

Keywords: Phytosomes, Herbal medicines, Drug delivery, Phospholipids, bioavailability, phytoconstituents.