Abstract

PHYTOSOME: A MODERNISTIC APPROACH FOR EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF POLYPHENOLIC PHYTOCONSTITUENTS

Anamika Tanwar*, Kamal Saroha, Neha Langyan and Sunil Yadav

ABSTRACT

Efficient delivery of phytoconstituents is almost challenging task for scientific community owing to their imbalanced hydrophilicity and lipophilicity considerations. The majority of phytoconstituents is mainly hydrophilic and has large molecular size, resulting in low absorption and bioavailability. Phytosomes and vesicular systems are a unique and revolutionary way of increasing the solubility and bioavailability of phytoconstituents and plant extracts. These are phytophospholipid complexes or herbosomes, which are complex form of phytoconstituents and phospholipid molecules. In compared to conventional dosage form, phytophospholipid complex has showed improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Solvent evaporation, anti-solvent precipitation, co-solvent lyophilization, and other methods have been used to prepare phytosomes all over the world. The current review focuses on the numerous methods for preparing phytosomes that are routinely used. Significant attributes, characterization methods, role of phospholipids in the preparation of phytosomes, various marketed and patented phytosomal products and recent investigations on phytosomes have also been highlighted.

Keywords: Phyto-phospholipid complex, phytoconstituents, herbosomes, bioavailability, herbal extracts.