PHYTOSOMES: AN ADVANCED CONCEPT TO NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Abstract

Novel drug delivery system is a novel approach to drug delivery that addresses the limitation of the existing drug delivery systems.The drawbacks of conventional formulations are poor drug solubility, toxic side effects, lack of site selectivity, uncontrollable release prole, and low bioavailability. Novel delivery system aims at maintaining optimum therapeutic- drug concentration in the blood or in tissue over a prolonged period of time, duration for short half- life of drug may be increased, by targeting the site of action; side effects may be eliminated, frequent dosing and wastage of the drug may be reduced or excluded.Phytosomes are recently introduced herbal formulations that are better absorbed than extracts. The term "phyto" means plant, while "some '' means cell-like. Increased bioavailability of the phytosomes over the simpler, non complex plant extracts has been demonstrated by pharmacokinetic and activity studies, conducted in animals as well as in humans.It enhances the absorption of lipid insoluble polar phytoconstituents through oral as well as topical way showing improved bioavailability. Application of phytosome improves their percutaneous absorption and acts as functional cosmetics. Phytosomes are prepared through the attachment of individual ingredients of herbal extracts to phosphatidylcholine, resulting in a formulation having higher solubility and hence better absorption leading to promoted pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties compared to the conventional herbal extracts.Phytosome are vesicular system in which each phytoconstituent molecule is surrounded and bounded by phospholipid molecule through chemical hydrogen bonds assuring enhanced bioavailability and permeability through cellular membranes. Phytosomes as novel herbal vesicular drug delivery systems assure to deliver the drug through the pathway channelizing the active phyto entity to the desired site of action. This paper aims to highlight some of the important effective applications of phytosomes with the help of some examples with special reference to cosmeceuticals suggesting one novel method of drug delivery system