Title: Recent Trends In The Nanoformulation Of Herbal Extracts For Enhanced Bioavailability
Authors: Ahmed Attahiru
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
Pages: 226-231
Publication Date: 2025/09/28
Abstract:
Herbal extracts possess significant therapeutic potential due to their rich phytochemical composition, which includes alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and polyphenols. Despite this promise, their clinical translation is often limited by physicochemical and biological challenges, including poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability under physiological conditions, rapid first-pass metabolism, limited intestinal permeability, and efflux transporter activity that reduces systemic bioavailability. These barriers can significantly compromise the therapeutic efficacy of plant-derived compounds, necessitating the development of innovative delivery strategies. Nanoformulation has emerged as a powerful approach to overcome these limitations by employing nanoscale carriers that can encapsulate bioactive constituents, improve their solubility, protect them from enzymatic and chemical degradation, and enhance cellular uptake. Various nanocarrier platforms, including lipid based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and hybrid systems, offer tailored solutions for controlled and targeted drug release. Lipid based carriers such as solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers provide biocompatibility and improved oral absorption, while polymeric nanoparticles enable sustained release and site specific delivery. Inorganic nanoparticles and hybrid systems allow multifunctional applications, including imaging and theranostics, in addition to therapeutic delivery. Recent research trends between 2020 and 2025 highlight the increasing use of green synthesis methods, phytosome phospholipid complexes, nanoemulsions, and multifunctional hybrid carriers, reflecting a focus on sustainability, biocompatibility, and improved pharmacokinetics. This review synthesizes these developments and includes a practical methodology section detailing preparation techniques, characterization approaches, and evaluation workflows. Furthermore, translational aspects such as safety assessment, regulatory considerations, and commercialization challenges are addressed. Comprehensive APA style citations are integrated throughout to support the discussion and provide a robust reference framework for researchers seeking to advance nanoformulation strategies for herbal therapeutics.