A Review on Therapeutic Applications of Phytosomes

Abstract

Ethnobotanical plants have been used in the treatment of various diseases since antiquity. The phytoconstituents have pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anti-obesity, thermoregulatory effects, cardioprotective, anti-asthmatic, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective and potent CNS activities. Various drug delivery systems like liposomes, niosomes, transferosomes, ethosomes, phytosomes, colloidosomes etc. are developed in order to carry the drug to the site of action without its metabolism. The major concern with respect to phytoconstituents having different chemical nature is its bioavailability and effective dosage concentration which could be overcome by means of phytosome technology. Chemically, phytosomes are vesicles of phospholipids bonded with a hydrogen bond to phytochemical/s. The current review highlights the major therapeutic applications of phytosomes till date. The review discusses about a latest and novel drug delivery system viz. "Phytosome technology" whereby major emphasis has been provided on the different therapeutic applications of phytosomes and its crucial role in managing the conventional complications that are encountered for the delivery of phytoconstituents. Applications of phytosomes such as enhancing bioavailability, anti-cancer and anti-oxidant agent, transdermal delivery, wound healing capacity etc. have been discussed. The comparison between the therapeutic activities of free drug and its phytosomes indicates that the complex provides various advantages over the conventional treatments.

Development of Pegylated Nano‐Phytosome Formulation with Oleuropein and Rutin to Compare Anti‐Colonic Cancer Activity with Olea Europaea Leaves Extract

“…Our findings agreed with previous studies that reported the improved anticancer activity of Oleu and rutin when formulated as nanoparticles. [13,[41][42][43][44] The findings of this study are consistent with previous research, [29-31-42] demonstrating that nano-particles, particularly phytosomes, effectively enhance the solubility and stability of phyto-compounds. Consequently, this improvement leads to significantly enhanced bioavailability and activity levels.…”

Phyto Vesicular Drug Delivery System: A Review

“…Phytoconstituents and the polar head of lipid react and form the complex that is further envelop by the non-polar part of lipid (Figure 3). Phytoconstituents generally consist of active hydrogen that binds with the polar part of phospholipid through hydrogen bonding and forms lipid-compatible vesicles 4 (Figure 4). An updated phospholipid complex of different active constituents and herbal extracts is shown in Table 3.…”

“…Numerous novel herbal vesicular delivery systems have been fruitfully developed in recent years, including liposomes, phytosomes, niosomes, tansferosomes, ethosomes and various other vesicular systems to meet the challenges. Drug targeting and the sustained release of the active molecule are made possible by vesicular drug delivery systems 4 .…”

The impact of emerging phytosome technology in healthcare management

“…Casperome boswellia phytosome was applied as potent antiinflammatory agent, Ginkgo select herbosome as cognition enhancer and as antioxidant, hawthorn herbosome for cardiovascular health, sericoside herbosome as antiwrinkle and tonic and 'Meriva', a curcumin herbosome for healthy joints. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of silipide phytosome of Silybum marianum showed hepatoprotective activity (Chivte et al, 2017). Recently, quercetin (polyphenol) phytosome was studied clinically and used in the treatment of COVID-19 where it increases oral absorption up to 20-fold than normal (Di Pierro et al, 2021).…”