Abstract

*Doli R. Das, Manisha Singh and Garima Vishnoi

ABSTRACT

Phytosomes is a novel drug delivery system. The term “phyto” means plant and “some” means cell like. It is also mentioned as herbosomes. This is a new patented technology, where standardized plant extracts or water soluble phytoconstituents are complexed with phospholipids to produce lipid compatible molecular complexes, there by greatly increasing absorption and bioavailability. Phytosomes are prepared by reacting a synthetic or natural phospholipid with the standardized plant extract. Phytosomes formulation can be delivered by both routes like oral and topically. The phytosome process has been applied to many useful herbal extracts such as Ginkgo biloba, grape seed, hawthorn, milk thistle, green tea, and ginseng. Due to formation of chemical bonds, phytosomes show better stability profile. Phytosomes can be used for systemic targeting of herbal drugs, as phytosome can easily transit from hydrophilic environment into the lipid friendly environment of the enterocyte cell membrane and from there to into the cell.