Phytosomes-An Advanced Herbal Technology

The term "Phyto" means plant while "some" means cell-like. Phytosome are little cell like structure. This is an advanced herbal delivery system which contains the bioactive phytoconstituents of herb extract surrounds and bound by Phospholipids. The potential uses of large number of herbal drugs are limited due to their poor absorption and poor bioavailability after oral administration. Phytosomes exhibit better pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile than conventional herbal extracts. Phytosome technology has been effectively used to enhanced the bioavailability of many popular herbal extracts including milk thistle, ginkgo biloba, grape seed, green tea, hawthorn, ginseng etc, and can be developed for various therapeutic uses or dietary suppliments. The phospholipid molecular structure includes a water soluble head and two fat soluble tails, because of this dual solubility the phospholipid acts as an effective emulsifier which is also one of the chief components of the membranes in our cells.