Background: Since ancient times, herbal medicine has been widely used worldwide.
The advancement of pharmaceutical technology and pharmacotherapy has allowed the
great expansion in the development of novel drug delivery systems.
Purpose: The use of these novel delivery systems has remarkable advantages over
conventional ones including: improved drug solubility, bioavailability, biological
effect, and stability, in addition to improved toxicological profile and decreased side
effects. Most natural products suffer from low solubility, low bioavailability,
instability, difficult administration, and unpleasant odor and taste leading to low
compliance, which limits its use.
Methods: The exploration of novel drug carriers to incorporate plant actives and
extracts can improve their use and administration producing a revolution in the
pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical fields for the prevention as well as treatment of
several diseases including infectious diseases. Different types of nanometric and
micrometric delivery systems can be used; these comprise lipid-based, polymer-based,
polysaccharide-based, surfactant-based, and cholesterol-based systems and
nanoemulsions in addition to hybrid nanoparticles.
Conclusion: The present article focuses on the role of the novel carriers in the
development and revival of herbal medicine. The types, composition, efficacy, and
challenges of different new carriers are discussed.
Keywords: Efficacy, Herbal, Nanoparticles, Pharmacotherapy, Solubility.
