Nanocarriers in the Enhancement of Therapeutic Efficacy of Natural Drugs

Abstract

Since time immemorial, plant derived natural products have been used for the treatment of various human diseases before the intervention of modern medicine. The basis of modern medicine is still being inspired from traditional medicine and therapies. However, despite their tremendous therapeutic potential, these natural drugs often have poor bioavailability, metabolic instability, and aqueous insolubility. These factors greatly impede a natural drug’s commercialization potential as a mainstream medicine. Therefore, the development of nanocarrier drug delivery systems is indispensable in overcoming the various constraints of the bottlenecks which occur with natural drugs. Of particular interest in this review are four plant materials endogenous to China with the common names of barrenwort or horny goat weed (Epimedium), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa, RG), ginseng (Panax ginseng), and Dong Quai or female ginseng (Angelica sinensis, AS), each having been scientifically investigated for a wide range of therapeutic uses as has been originally discovered from the long history of traditional usage and anecdotal information by local population groups in Asia. The integration of natural drugs from the East and nanocarrier drug delivery systems developed from the West is paving the way towards further accurate and efficient medicine therapy. We further discuss the potential benefits of these plants and the enhancement of their therapeutic efficacy by nanotechnology intervention.

Nanotechnology for Natural Medicine: Formulation of Neem Oil Loaded Phospholipid Vesicles Modified with Argan Oil as a Strategy to Protect the Skin from Oxidative Stress and Promote Wound Healing

“…Many efforts have been made to evaluate the therapeutic activity of these natural molecules [55]. Despite their promising therapeutic properties, these natural drugs are often low water-soluble, poorly bioavailable and metabolically instable, and as a consequence the performed studies did not confirm their effective potential [56]. Therefore, the development of suitable formulations, especially those formulated by using nanotechnological processes, represent a valuable strategy capable of overcoming the various drawbacks, which often occur using natural drugs [57].…”

Transforming Tea Catechins into Potent Anticancer Compound: Analysis of Three Boronated-PEG Delivery System

“…Simply having a slightly targeted system that would increase the accumulation of the drug at the cancer site compared to chemotherapy would prove to be beneficial and required. A nanoparticle system should be stable, have the ability to carry large loads of cargo, and most importantly, could be accumulated to the tumor site through an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect [5,9,15]. The drug must maintain its toxic effects and as a result should be stable in the sense that it does not break open, releasing its contents and should only do so at the cancer site.…”

“…Green tea extract is a recognized rich dietary source of catechins [7,8]. A broad range of pharmacological activities have been reported for catechins, including antiviral, nephroprotective and anticancer activities, which are strongly associated with their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic properties [9][10][11]. A recent study also shows that catechins may serve as promising therapeutics in COVID-19-associated AKI due to their well-recognized anti-SARS-CoV-2, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that mediate their reno-protective activities [12].…”

Ofloxacin-loaded Selenium-tellurium Nanoheterojunctions for Skin Infection and Wound Healing

“…Nanomaterials have a certain speci c surface area, showing their potential as drug delivery platforms. [39,40] Therefore, the ability of TeSe nanomaterials to combine with small molecule drugs as carriers is considered. OFLX was a broad-spectrum antibiotic drug in clinic, which was loaded on TeSe nanomaterials to construct nanodrug delivery system of antibiotic-photothermal combined therapy.…”