Nanoparticles for Herbal Extracts

Herbal medicines have been widely used all over the world since ancient times and have been recognized by physicians and patients for their better therapeutic value as they have fewer adverse effects as compared with modern medicines. Phytotherapeutics need a scientific approach to delivering the components in a sustained manner to increase patient compliance and avoid repeated administration. This can be achieved by designing novel drug delivery systems (NDDSs) for herbal constituents. NDDSs not only reduce the repeated administration to overcome non-compliance but also help to increase the therapeutic value by reducing toxicity and increasing the bioavailability. One such novel approach is nanotechnology. Nano-sized drug delivery systems of herbal drugs have a potential future for enhancing the activity and overcoming problems associated with plant medicines. Hence, integration of the nanocarriers as an NDDS in the traditional medicine system is essential to conflict more chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, and others. The article describes nano drug delivery systems, properties, advantages, disadvantages, types of nanoparticles, their method of preparation, different nano herbal medicines, and nano herbal cosmetics available in the market.