Novel Phytosome Formulations in Making Herbal Extracts More Effective

Inadequate potency, solubility, permeability and stability of many herbal extracts were regarded as the principle hindrance in developing modern medicine from herbs. In the recent past researchers in pharmaceuticals have shown deep interest in herbal source of drug for developing promising therapeutics. Phytosome technology is one such novel approach that enabled in making polyphenolic phytoconstituent more skin permeable and absorbable from gastrointestinal tract. Polyphenolic compound are largest in number in the flavonoid class of herbal drugs possessing wide therapeutic application like antioxidant, cardio protective, ant-inflammatory, anti-cancer, ant-obesity, etc,. Important herbs including Milk thistle, Ginkgo biloba, Grape seed, Green tea, Hawthorn, Ginseng, Curcumine, Ammi visnaga, Terminelia root, etc. are currently available in Phytosome form in the market. Undoubtedly a progressive research and exchange of idea in the field of this novel technology will gear up the search for newer formulas in threating human ailments. In the present writing a handful of successes in the field of Phytosome are discussed along with the manufacturing aspect, clinical aspect and a comparison is made between different traditional herbal extract and their Phytosome form in terms of efficacy. Apart from the review it was envisaged to develop Rutin Phytosome (1:1, Rutin: Phosphatidylcholine) embedded in polymeric transdermal patch (Eudragit RL 100 and PVP K30 in 60:40 ratio) and to evaluate the skin permeability. Rutin phytosome in transdermal patch exhibited cumulative skin permeation (2.8866 mg/cm² ± 0.83) which is much higher than that for free rutin (0.4317 mg/cm² ± 0.48).