Abstract

HERBOSOMES: A POTENTIAL CARRIERS FOR THE BIOAVAILABILITY ENHANCEMENT OF HERBAL EXTRACTS

G. Monica* and V.Vasu Naik

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of any herbal medication is dependent on the delivery of effective level of the therapeutically active compounds. Herbosomes are recently introduced herbal formulations that are better absorbed and as a result produce better bioavailability and actions than the conventional botanical extracts. Herbal excipients are non-toxic and compatible they have a major role to play in pharmaceutical formulation. There are many herbal extracts having excellent bioactivity in vitro but less in vivo because of their poor lipid solubility and improper size of the molecule or both, which result in poor absorption and bioavailability of herbal extract or constituents from herbal extract and they destroyed in the gastric fluids when taken orally. Herbosome is the novel emerging technique applied to phyto-pharmaceutical for the enhancement of bioavailability of herbal extract for medicinal applications. Herbosomal formulations have enhanced absorption rate, producing better bioavailability than conventional herbal extract. Since they have improved pharmacological and pharmacokinetic parameters. Herbosomes absorption in GIT is greater resulting in increased plasma level than individual component. Herbosome act as bridge between novel delivery system and conventional delivery system. Phospholipids molecule acting as vital carrier made up of water soluble head and two fat soluble tails, due to this nature they possess dual solubility and thus acting as an effective emulsifier.

Keywords: Herbosomes, Phosphatidylcholine, Polyphenol, Liposomes, Herbosome complex.