Phyto-complex and their role in enhancing efficacy of herbal drugs

Abstract

This review highlights the roles of novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) especially the phyto-complex for enhancing the safety, efficacy, and bioavailability of certain herbal drugs. Despite the world wide acceptance of herbal drugs it is quite evident that these drugs are still suffering with poor aqueous solubility, poor pharmaco-kinetics/slow pharmacological action, low absorption, bioavailability and lower dermal affinity. These drawbacks can be overcome with some of the recent advanced technologies like nano-particles, nanocapsules, liposomes, phyotosomes, nanoemulsions, ethosomes, pronisomes, floating drug delivery system and micro-emulsions. Phyto-complex is a patented technology that incorporates standardized plant extracts or water soluble phyto-constituents (flavanoids and terpenoids) into phospholipids to produce lipid compatible molecular complex. This technology was widely accepted by many pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies for enhancing the efficacy of their products. In this review 25 different herbal drugs with their active ingredients, their medicinal utility, major associated drawbacks and methods of producing improved herbal drug were discussed. Beside these various trademark products as well as practical efficacy of some phyto-complex formulated herbal drugs were also discussed.