Herbal nanomedicines: Recent advancements, challenges, opportunities and regulatory overview

Parusu Kavya Teja; Jinal Mithiya; Abhijeet S Kate; Khemraj Bairwa; Siddheshwar K Chauthe

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153890

Herbal nanomedicines: Recent advancements, challenges, opportunities and regulatory overview

Phytomedicine. 2022 Feb:96:153890. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153890. Epub 2021 Dec 17.

Authors

Parusu Kavya Teja¹, Jinal Mithiya¹, Abhijeet S Kate¹, Khemraj Bairwa², Siddheshwar K Chauthe³

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad (NIPER-A), An Institute of National Importance, Government of India, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Opp. Air Force Station, Palaj, Gandhinagar, 382355, Gujarat, India.
² National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad (NIPER-A), An Institute of National Importance, Government of India, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Opp. Air Force Station, Palaj, Gandhinagar, 382355, Gujarat, India.. Electronic address: khemraj92@gmail.com.
³ National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad (NIPER-A), An Institute of National Importance, Government of India, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Opp. Air Force Station, Palaj, Gandhinagar, 382355, Gujarat, India.. Electronic address: Siddheshwar.chauthe@niperahm.ac.in.

PMID: 35026510
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153890

Abstract

Background: Herbal Nano Medicines (HNMs) are nano-sized medicine containing herbal drugs as extracts, enriched fractions or biomarker constituents. HNMs have certain advantages because of their increased bioavailability and reduced toxicities. There are very few literature reports that address the common challenges of herbal nanoformulations, such as selecting the type/class of nanoformulation for an extract or a phytochemical, selection and optimisation of preparation method and physicochemical parameters. Although researchers have shown more interest in this field in the last decade, there is still an urgent need for systematic analysis of HNMs.

Purpose: This review aims to provide the recent advancement in various herbal nanomedicines like polymeric herbal nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, phytosomes, nano-micelles, self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system, nanofibers, liposomes, dendrimers, ethosomes, nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, and carbon nanotube; their evaluation parameters, challenges, and opportunities. Additionally, regulatory aspects and future perspectives of herbal nanomedicines are also being covered to some extent.

Methods: The scientific data provided in this review article are retrieved by a thorough analysis of numerous research and review articles, textbooks, and patents searched using the electronic search tools like Sci-Finder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, ACS, Medline Plus and Web of Science.

Results: In this review, the authors suggested the suitability of nanoformulation for a particular type of extracts or enriched fraction of phytoconstituents based on their solubility and permeability profile (similar to the BCS class of drugs). This review focuses on different strategies for optimising preparation methods for various HNMs to ensure reproducibility in context with all the physicochemical parameters like particle size, surface area, zeta potential, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, drug loading, and drug release, along with the consistent therapeutic index.

Conclusion: A combination of herbal medicine with nanotechnology can be an essential tool for the advancement of herbal medicine research with enhanced bioavailability and fewer toxicities. Despite the challenges related to traditional medicine's safe and effective use, there is huge scope for nanotechnology-based herbal medicines. Overall, it is well stabilized that herbal nanomedicines are safer, have higher bioavailability, and have enhanced therapeutic value than conventional herbal and synthetic drugs.

Keywords: Herbal drugs; Herbal nano medicine (HNMs); Marker constituents; and Ayurveda.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Drug Delivery Systems
Liposomes
Nanomedicine*
Nanoparticles*
Reproducibility of Results

Substances

Lipid Nanoparticles
Liposomes