Phytosomes as Novel Drug Delivery System for Herbal Medicine –A Review

Abstract

Phytomedicines, complex chemical mixtures prepared from plants, have been used for health maintenance since ancient times. But many phytomedicines are limited in their effectiveness because they are poorly absorbed when taken orally. The term "phyto" means plant while "some" means cell-like. Phytosomes are little cell like structure. This is advanced forms of herbal formulations which contains the bioactive phytoconsituents of herb extract surrounds and bound by a lipid. Most of the bioactive constituents of phytomedicines are water-soluble compounds like flavonoids, glycosides; terpenoids in which flavonoids are a major class of bioactive compounds possesses broad therapeutic activities. Because of water soluble herbal extract and lipophilic outer layer phytosomes shows better absorption and as a result produce better bioavailability and actions than the conventional herbal extracts containing dosage form. Phytosomes are produced by a process where by the standardized plant extract or its constituents are bound to phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine producing a lipidcompatible molecular complex. This study reveals that phytosome exhibit better pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics profile than conventional herbal extracts.

Phytosome as a Prominent Option in Drug Delivery for the Treatment of the Diseases: A Review

“…1  Phytosome represent a unit of bonded hybrid molecules, while the liposome represents a group of many phospholipids molecules which encloses phytoactive molecules without specifically bonding. 1,[5][6][7] In liposome the active principle is dissolved in the medium contained in the cavity or in the layers of the membrane, whereas in the phytosome it is an integral part of the membrane, being the molecules anchored through chemical bonds to the polar head of the phospholipids. 8,9 The complex formation for the liposome (upper segment) versus phytosome (lower segment)as shown below in…”

“…Over the past few time, the composition of Phytochemical and phyto-pharmacological sciences established which increased the biological activities and health promoting benefits of various botanical products. 1 The major drawback of plant extracts is their inability to properly cross the lipid membrane and deliver the drug at specific site of action. Phospholipids represent a key agent for the development of phytopharmaceuticals due to its biocompatibility with the phytohemicals.…”

“…These factors leads to poor bioavailability of the phytochemicals which can be converted into lipid-compatible molecular complexes called as phytosome. 1 Phosphatidylcholine, is a bifunctional compound which is miscible in water and oil both and shows good absorption when taken by mouth. The most widely used phospholipid to make Phytosome and obtained from the biological source soybean (Glycine max).…”

“…3,4 The phytosome technology could be a breakthrough model for better clinical result, drug delivery to the tissues, nutrient safety and enhanced bioavailability. 1…”