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Abstract

Novel drug delivery systems have gained significant importance because of their enhanced bioavailability and overall therapeutics. Hydrophilic nature and unique chemical structure of most of the therapeutically useful phytoconstituents which result in poor bioavailability and less absorption. The water soluble phytoconstituents have excellent bioactivity in vitro, but less or no action in vivo. Phytosome technology can overcome this problem in which the phytoconstituent is allowed to react with phospholipid. The phytoconstituent with poor lipid solubility on complexation into phytosome, can exhibit better pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics profile as compared to conventional herbal extract. Phytoconstituent must have good hydrophilicity which helps in dissolution in gastrointestinal fluid and hydrophobicity which helps cross lipid-rich cell membrane. Phytosome technology results in an intermolecular bonding between phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine and a single molecule of phytoconstituent. Phosphatidylcholine used in phytosome technology has also proven its clinical efficacy by acting as a carrier for fat and water miscible nutrients and natural digestive aid. Phytosomes can be used to treat acute and chronic liver failure due to improved pharmacological and pharmacokinetic property. In market, many products based on phytosome technology are available which include herbal extracts and phytochemicals with great therapeutic potential such as curcumin, ginkgo biloba, grape seed, silymarin, and many more. The present review highlights the method of preparation, properties, advantages, characterization, and applications.

Synthesis, characterization and hepatoprotective effect of silymarin phytosome nanoparticles on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

“… 20 , 21 Phytosomal form of silymarin is a combination of silymarin and phosphatidylcholine, which is prepared by solvent evaporation and converted to phytosomal vesicles by thin film hydration; this exhibits higher solubility, better absorption, better membrane permeability and a more stable chemical composition, thus leading to a better bioavailability drug system for silymarin. 22 - 25 Phytosomal form of silymarin has been previously produced; its physical properties, such as including size, surface charge, loading capacity (LC), entrapment efficiency (EE), particle morphology and stability, were evaluated; however, its therapeutic effect against ALD has not been reported. Therefore, we herein performed this research to produce the phytosomal form of silymarin, examine its physical properties and investigate its therapeutic potentials against ALD in a rat model of ALD.…”

“…[5][6][7] During ethanol thus leading to a better bioavailability drug system for silymarin. [22][23][24][25] Phytosomal form of silymarin has been previously produced; its physical properties, such as including size, surface charge, loading capacity (LC), entrapment efficiency (EE), particle morphology and stability, were evaluated; however, its therapeutic effect against ALD has not been reported. Therefore, we herein performed this research to produce the phytosomal form of silymarin, examine its physical properties and investigate its therapeutic potentials against ALD in a rat model of ALD.…”