An Overview of Phytosome Novel Drug Delivery System

In recent days, most common diseases and nutritional disorders have been treated with natural remedies. Despite excellent in vitro bioactivity, many plant extracts and phytoconstituents have less or no activity in vivo due to poor lipid solubility or incorrect molecular size or both, resulting in poor absorption and bioavailability. Thus, much work is directed towards the development of a new concept of herbal delivery system, namely phytosomes, which are better absorbed, utilized and thus provide better results than traditional plant extracts. Phytosomes are often called herbosomes. The term “phyto” means a plant, while “some” means a cell. Phytosomes are small cellular structures. The phytosome consists of phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine, which form a lipid-compatible molecular complex with other components. Phytosomes are better than liposomes due to 2:1 and 1:1 complex ratio of components and phospholipids, much better absorption and stability profile. Phytosome is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In animal studies, it improved resistance to atherosclerotic lesions, strengthened the protective prostaglandin and protected the ventricular myocardium against damage caused by lack of blood flow.