An Overview of Phytosomes as an Advanced Herbal Drug Delivery System

Lasure Priti, Sayyad Heen

S.M.B.T. College of Pharmacy, Dhamangaon, Igatpuri, Nashik

*Corresponding Author E-mail: heenasayyad92@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Phytoconstituents have proved to possess the potential to calm, smoothen, heal, rejuvenate and protect the skin. This has led to their increased use in cosmetics. Phytoconstituents are being extracted by microwave assisted techniques tremendously since last few years due to the advantages which they offer over conventional extraction techniques. Microwave assisted extraction (MAE) is a separation technique that combines the uses of energy of microwave radiation and traditional solvent extraction. It is not only time and solvent saving but also a boon to thermo labile constituents in plant material. Also, the dangers of hazardous organic solvents to nature, environment and operator are minimized due to lower amount of solvent required. MAE has shown to provide higher quality, purity and yield of phytoconstituents when compared to the conventional extraction techniques like Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction and Soxhlet extraction. It can be applied to solid, semi-solid and liquid matrices and the ability to alter and adjust solvent polarities renders it widely applicable. The phytoconstituents used in herbal cosmetics that have been reported to be extracted by MAE include lipids (fatty acids and oils), terpenes (essential oils, sterols, and carotenoids), polyphenols (flavonoids) etc. The aim of the study is to throw light on the potential and advantages of MAE and hence suggest its increased utilisation in the herbal cosmetics industry. A brief theory of microwave heating and the basic principles of using microwave energy for extraction have also been presented in this article.

KEYWORDS: Phytoconstituents, Microwave assisted extraction, MAE, Herbal cosmetics.

INTRODUCTION:

Phytosomes are cell like structure Phytosomes means plant while some means cell like. Phytosomes contains the bioactive phytoconstituents of herb extracts surrounded and bound by lipid. Phytosomes are developed by incorporating standardized plant extract or water soluble phytoconstituents into phospholipids to produce lipid compatible molecular complexes called phytosomes and so vastly improve their absorption and bioavailability. Phytosomes are better able to transform from a hydrophillic enviroment into the lipid friendly environment of the enterocyte cell membrane and from there into the cell finally reaching the blood.

Phytosome have improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacological parameter which in result can advantageously be used in treatment of acute and chronic liver disease of toxic metabolic or infective origin (The Phytosome process has been applied to many popular herbal extracts including Ginkgo biloba, grape seed, hawthorn, milk thistle, green tea, and ginseng.

Merits of phytosomes over conventional dosage forms:

There is a dramatic enhancement of the bioavailability of botanical extracts due to their complexation with phospholipids and improved absorption in the intestinal tract They permeate the non-lipophillic botanical extract to allow better absorption from the intestinal lumen, which is otherwise not possible The formulation of phytosomes is safe and the components have all been approved for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. This technology offers cost-effective delivery of phytoconstituents and synergistic benefits when used as functional cosmetics to protect the skin against exogenous or endogenous hazards in normal as well as stressful environmental conditions They can be also used for enhanced permeation of drug through skin for transdermal and dermal delivery

Phospholipids

Solution of phospholipids in organic solvent with drug/extract

Drying

Formation of thin film

Formation of phytosomal suspension.

Fig. Common stages for preparation of phytosomes

Applications:

· In treatment of various diseases like liver disease and heart disease.

· It is also used as antiinflammatory, lipolytic, vasokinetic, anti-oedema, cicatrizing, neutraceutical immunomo-dulator, antioxidant for skin and liver, cardioprotective, anti-wrinkles and UV protectant.

· Contain flavonoid known for hepatoprotective effect.

REFERENCES:

1 E. Bombardelli, M. Spelta, R. L. Della, S. Sosa, A. Tubaro. Aging Skin: Protective effect of silymarin- Phytosome. Fitoterapia, 1991, 62: 115-122.

2. A. D. Kingdom, Pharmacognosy in 21st century. J. Pharmacog. Pharmacol., 2001, 53: 135-148.

3 B. Gabetta, E. Bombardelli, G. Pifferi. Complexes of flavanolignans with phospholipids preparation, thereof and associated pharmaceutical compositions. U. S. Patent No. 4764508, 1986.

Received on 12.10.2013 Accepted on 11.11.2013

Res. J. Topical and Cosmetic Sci. 4(1): July –Dec. 2013 page 65-66