Metal Nanodelivery Systems for Improved Efficacy of Herbal Drugs

Abstract

Herbal drugs have been used since ancient times in various parts of the world. These have wide acceptability due to their time-tested therapeutic values and minimal side effects in contrast to modern allopathic medicines. Mostly, the herbal drugs are either in dried powder form or in crude extract form prepared in different solvent systems. These preparations generally need large dose administration and also could be less effective in the form of conventional formulations. Moreover, these herbal formulations cannot be targeted to specific tissue in case of different chronic diseases. Oral consumed herbal formulations display reduced bioavailability as these are subjected to adverse pH, enzymatic degradation and ultimately poor gut absorption. Constraints associated with conventional phytopharmaceuticals have been improved by designing and using “Nano Delivery Systems” (NDS). The foremost aim of NDS is to provide sustained drug release, site-specific action, and improved patient’s compliance. Nanometal based herbal drugs can be used for targeted drug delivery in the body which improves their safety, effectiveness and reduces need of frequent large doses. Metal Nanocarriers loaded with herbal drugs can carry the optimal amount of the drug to their site of action avoiding different obstructions such as low pH in the stomach, metabolism by liver so that the drug can circulate into the blood for a longer period of time. Herbal drugs with NDS thus would be helpful in enhancing their efficacy.