EXPLORING POTENTIAL OF PLANTEROSOME AS A NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM; REVIEWING DECADES OF RESEARCH

Abstract

The delivery of effective level of therapeutically active compound influences the effectiveness any herbal medication. When a dministered orally or topically, severe limitations occur in the bioavailability of th e same. Compared to the conventional phyto molecules or botanical extracts, planterosomes, which are newly, introduced herbal formulations, show much better bioavailability and actions produced as a result of better absorption profile. Nowadays, natural me dicines are used to treat the malnutrition and other nutritional disorders as well as diseases which are prevailing in the re cent times. Poor absorption and bioavailability can be observed in several plant extracts as well as phytoconstituents, due to thei r poor lipid solubility or improper size or sometimes both in combination, resulting in less or no in - vivo actions though they might demonstrate excellent bioavailability in - vitro . This in turn creates a need to work on the development of a new concept in herbal delivery system i.e., planterosomes which, due to the presence of phosphatidylcholine, can be absorbed and utilized better and hence produce results which are better in every aspect as compared to those of other conventional herbal extracts. The p lanterosomal preparations are especially advantageous in the treatment of acute as well as chronic diseases of the liver which may be of toxic or of in fective origin or degenerative nature due to their substantially improved pharmacological and pharmacokin etic parameters. They can also be effectively used in the formulation of cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions as well as in preparations which produce anti - inflammatory activity.