An overview of nanostructured lipid carriers containing phytoconstituents.

Abstract

The phytochemicals offer enormous therapeutic promise for treating a variety of illnesses, without serious side effects. Every country is resorting to self-medication in the form of herbal medicines in an effort to obtain healthcare beyond the conventional bounds of modern medicine. Bioavailability and site-specific targeting are the only factors that determine its effectiveness. Poor absorption rate of phytoconstituents is due to low lipid solubility, large molecular weight, and presence of multi-ring polyphenols in their structures. A combination of solid and liquid lipids in an appropriate ratio becomes nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) that overcomes the limitations of poor absorption. In this review, NLC containing various phytoconstituents are overviewed with special emphasis on methods of preparation, various examples of solid and liquid lipids and outcomes which improved absorptions, bioavailability, minimum particle size, appropriate polydispersibility index and entrapment efficiencies. So, to encourage their continued usage in the future, this study will give a synopsis of the present status of NLCs containing phytoconstituents, including their formulations, modern processes, and uses in oral drug administration.