Herbal Bioactive: A Booster Dose for Advanced Pharmaceutical Nanoscience

The development of bioactive components as delivery systems with the use of advanced nanoscience is opening new therapeutic avenues for the management of various diseases. Among recent novel applications, plant phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are the fastest growing areas of nanotechnology-based research for effective public healthcare. Bioactive compounds, either encapsulated or in entrapped form within novel drug delivery systems, are reported as a booster treatment for various chronic infections and life-threatening diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, malaria, microbial infections, immune disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders. Recently, considerable progress has surged in understanding the factors associated with these diseases. A variety of nanoscience-based formulations such as polymeric matrix nanoparticles, aerosol inhalers/nebulizers nanoemulsions, and vesicular carrier systems, including liposome, phytosome, transfersome, herbosome, ethosome, niosome, have proven valuable in the delivery of bioactive materials. Moreover, it is reported that herbs and herbal bioactive compounds exhibit notable efficacy compared to phytopharmaceuticals and plant extracts fortified within the conventional method of delivery, with enhanced solubility, bioavailability, stability, tissue distribution, abridged toxicity, improved pharmacological efficacy, and protection from physicochemical degradation. The current chapter focuses on the carrier-based delivery of bioactive as a booster with advanced nanosciences, such as nanoemulsion and vesicular drug delivery systems. In addition, the chapter also elaborates patented technologies along with potential bioactive products available in the market.