Liposomal delivery systems for herbal extracts

Diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease: Understanding disease mechanisms, their correlation, and promising dual activity of selected herbs

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

This review explores the link between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and diabetes-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD). It emphasizes the shared pathophysiological links and mechanisms between the two conditions, focusing on reduced insulin levels and receptors, impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative damage in AD-affected brains-paralleling aspects of T2DM. The review suggests AD as a "diabetes of the brain," supported by cognitive enhancement through antidiabetic interventions. It focuses on the traditionally used Indian herbs as a means to manage both conditions while addressing developmental challenges.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study explores the DM-AD connection, reviewing medicinal herbs with protective potential for both ailments, considering traditional uses and developmental challenges.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Studied research, reviews, and ethnobotanical and scientific data from electronic databases and traditional books.

RESULTS

The study analyzes the pathophysiological links between DM and AD, emphasizing their interconnected factors. Eight Ayurvedic plants with dual protective effects against T2DM and AD are thoroughly reviewed with preclinical/clinical evidence. Historical context, phytoconstituents, and traditional applications are explored. Innovative formulations using these plants are examined. Challenges stemming from phytoconstituents' physicochemical properties are highlighted, prompting novel formulation development, including nanotechnology-based delivery systems. The study uncovers obstacles in formulating treatments for these diseases.

CONCLUSION

The review showcases the dual potential of chosen medicinal herbs against both diseases, along with their traditional applications, endorsing their use. It addresses formulation obstacles, proposing innovative delivery technologies for herbal therapies, while acknowledging their constraints. The review suggests the need for heightened investment and research in this area.

Liposome Nanocarriers Based on γ Oryzanol: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vivo Assessment of Toxicity and Antioxidant Activity

The present study aimed to develop and characterize liposome nanocarriers based on γ oryzanol and evaluate their potential in vitro and in vivo toxicity and antioxidant effects. The liposomes were physicochemically characterized using various techniques, including dynamic light scattering (DLS) for size and polydispersity index (PDI) measurements and ζ-potential analysis. The in vitro toxicity assessments were performed using hemolysis and MTT assays on the HS5 cell line. In vivo, acute oral toxicity was evaluated by using LD50 assays in mice. Additionally, antioxidant activity was assessed through biochemical analysis of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and liver tissue catalase, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels. The results revealed that the liposomes exhibited a uniform and spherical morphology with suitable physicochemical properties for drug delivery applications. The in vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays and the in vivo LD50 experiment indicated the potential safety of γ oryzanol liposomes, especially at lower concentrations. In addition, the assessment of liver enzymes, i.e., ALT and AST, and the antioxidant markers further revealed the safety of the formulation, particularly for the liver as a highly sensitive soft organ. Overall, the liposome nanocarriers based on γ oryzanol were successfully formulated and expressed potential safety, supporting their application for the purposes of drug delivery and therapeutic interventions, particularly for hepatocellular and antioxidant therapies; however, further investigations for preclinical and clinical studies could be the future prospects for liposome nanocarriers based on γ oryzanol to explore the safety and efficacy of these nanocarriers in various disease models and clinical settings.

Characterization and In Vivo Antiangiogenic Activity Evaluation of Morin-Based Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes

Morin (MRN) is a natural compound with antiangiogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity. However, it shows a very low water solubility (28 μg/mL) that reduces its oral absorption, making bioavailability low and unpredictable. To improve MRN solubility and positively affect its biological activity, particularly its antiangiogenic activity, in this work, we prepared the inclusion complexes of MNR with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). The inclusion complexes obtained by the freeze-drying method were extensively characterized in solution (phase-solubility studies, UV-Vis titration, and NMR spectroscopy) and in the solid state (TGA, DSC, and WAXD analysis). The complexation significantly increased the water solubility by about 100 times for MRN/HP-β-CD and 115 times for MRN/SBE-β-CD. Furthermore, quantitative dissolution of the complexes was observed within 60 min, whilst 1% of the free drug dissolved in the same experimental time. 1H NMR and UV-Vis titration studies demonstrated both CDs well include the benzoyl moiety of the drug. Additionally, SBE-β-CD could interact with the cinnamoyl moiety of MRN too. The complexes are stable in solution, showing a high value of association constant, that is, 3380 M-1 for MRN/HP-β-CD and 2870 M-1 for MRN/SBE-β-CD. In vivo biological studies on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and zebrafish embryo models demonstrated the high biocompatibility of the inclusion complexes and the effective increase in antiangiogenic activity of complexed MRN with respect to the free drug.

Enhancement of cell migration and wound healing by nano-herb ointment formulated with biosurfactant, silver nanoparticles and Tridax procumbens

Introduction

Ointments are generally used as a therapeutic agent for topical medication or transdermal drug delivery, such as wound healing and skin lesions.

Methods

In this study, Tridax procumbens plant extract (0.7 g/mL) was used to prepare herbal-infused oil as the oil phase and gelatin-stabilized silver nanoparticle (G-AgNPs) (0.3 g/mL) as the aqueous phase. To blend the oil and aqueous phases, rhamnolipid biosurfactant with a critical micelle concentration of 55 mg/L from strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PP4 has been used for herb ointment preparation. The average size of the synthesized G-AgNPs was observed between 10-30 nm and confirmed as spherical-shaped particles by TEM analysis. Subsequently, GC-MS and FTIR characterization are used to confirm herb ointment's chemical and functional characteristics.

Results

Based on the antibacterial studies, the highest microbial growth inhibition was observed for herb ointment, about 19.5 mm for the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus at the concentration of 100 μg/mL, whereas 15.5 mm was obtained for Escherichia coli, respectively. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay showed negligible bacterial growth at 100 μg/mL for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Moreover, the cell viability assay for herb ointment exhibited low cytotoxic activity at higher concentrations (100 μg/mL) in Vero cell lines. In this study, wound scratch assay showed a significant cell migration rate (90 ± 2%) in 3 days of incubation than the control (62 ± 2%).

Discussion

As a result, the biosurfactant-based nano-topical herb ointment revealed a low cytotoxic and higher cell migration capacity. Altogether, these findings highlighted the utility of this herb ointment in therapeutic applications such as wound healing.

Nanotechnology Formulations Designed with Herbal Extracts and Their Therapeutic Applications - A Review

Because of the increasing demand for natural products, the development of nanoformulations containing natural active ingredients requires in-depth knowledge of the substances used, methods of obtaining, and stability profiles to ensure product quality, efficacy, and safety. Considering this, the bibliography of the last five years presented in databases (PubMed and Science Direct) was discussed in this work, discussing the study with medicinal plants to obtain active metabolites with therapeutic properties, as well as the different nano-systems responsible for carrying these molecules. Due to the wealth of biodiversity found in the world, many species are submitted to the extraction process for several purposes. However, identifying, classifying, and quantifying the constituents of herbal matrices are crucial steps to verify their therapeutic potential. In addition, knowing the techniques of production and elaboration of nanotechnology products allows the optimization of the incorporation of herbal extracts as an innovation target. For studies to be successful, it is necessary to exhaust experimental results that guarantee the efficacy, safety, and quality of natural nanosystems, with the objective of obtaining reliable answers in nanotechnology therapy.

The anticancer, anti-oxidant, and antibacterial activities of chitosan-lecithin-coated parthenolide/tyrosol hybrid nanoparticles

Tyrosol (TYR) and parthenolide (PLT) have been used as synthetic antioxidant and natural anticancer compounds. In the current study, we aimed to synthesize an encapsulated complex of both PLT and TYR in a hybrid coating layer consisting of lecithin and chitosan molecules, a proper biocompatible drug delivery system to evaluate its antibacterial and anticancer potentials on human liver HepG2 and pancreatic Panc cancer cell lines. The chitosan-lecithin-coated PLT/TYR nanoparticles (clPT-NPs) were synthesized applying an auto-self-assembling method. The clPT-NPs were characterized utilizing DLS, FTIR, zeta potential, and TEM analysis. The clPT-NPs' antioxidant activity was measured by running ABTS and DPPH antioxidant assays. Moreover, the antibacterial potential of clPT-NPs was evaluated by applying disk diffusion, MIC, and MBC assays. Finally, the nanoparticles' cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity were studied by conducting MTT, Flow cytometry, AO/PI cell staining, and real-time PCR techniques. The clPT-NPs (38 nm) exhibited significant antioxidant activity by inhibiting ABTS and DPPH radicals at 187 and 290 μg/mL IC50 concentrations, respectively. Also, the nanoparticles induced a notable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus at 0.0625 mg/mL MIC and 0.125 mg/mL MBC concentrations. The clPT-NPs selectively decreased the cancer cells' survival and increased the apoptotic dead cells by up-regulating apoptotic gene expression (BAX and Cas-8) and down-regulating BCL-2 anti-apoptotic gene expression. The PLT toxicity has been merged with improved TYR antioxidant activity, which has been functionalized in a safe, biocompatible hybrid nano-delivery system.

Therapeutic Applications of Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Antioxidants for Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) composed of a lipid bilayer are released from various cell types, including animals, plants, and microorganisms, and serve as important mediators of cell-to-cell communication. EVs can perform a variety of biological functions through the delivery of bioactive molecules, such as nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, and can also be utilized as carriers for drug delivery. However, the low productivity and high cost of mammalian-derived EVs (MDEVs) are major barriers to their practical clinical application where large-scale production is essential. Recently, there has been growing interest in plant-derived EVs (PDEVs) that can produce large amounts of electricity at a low cost. In particular, PDEVs contain plant-derived bioactive molecules such as antioxidants, which are used as therapeutic agents to treat various diseases. In this review, we discuss the composition and characteristics of PDEVs and the appropriate methods for their isolation. We also discuss the potential use of PDEVs containing various plant-derived antioxidants as replacements for conventional antioxidants.

Rottlerin-Liposome Inhibits the Endocytosis of Feline Coronavirus Infection

Rottlerin (R) is a natural extract from Mallotus philippensis with antiviral properties. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV) that is characterized by systemic granulomatous inflammation and high mortality. We investigated the antiviral effect of liposome-loaded R, i.e., rottlerin-liposome (RL), against FCoV. We demonstrated that RL inhibited FCoV replication in a dose-dependent manner, not only in the early endocytosis stage but also in the late stage of replication. RL resolved the low solubility issue of rottlerin and improved its inhibition efficacy at the cellular level. Based on these findings, we suggest that RL is worth further investigation as a potential treatment for FCoV.

Swimming training and herbal nanoformulations as natural remedies to improve sensory-motor impairment in rat midbrain tumor models: system biology, behavioral test, and experimental validation

Motor impairment worsens health-related quality of life in patients with primary and metastatic midbrain tumors. Here, 56-male-Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: Normal group, Midbrain Tomur Model group, Model + Exe group, Model + Lipo, Model + Extract, Model + Lipo-Extract, Model + Extract-Exe, Model + Lipo-Extract + Exe. According to the aim, mid-brain tumor models were conducted by injections of the C6 glioma cell line (5 × 105 cell suspension) and stereotaxic techniques in the substantia nigra area. Furthermore, consumption of nanoformulation of herbals extract (100 mg/kg/day), crude extract (100 mg/kg/day), and swimming training (30 min, 3 days/week) as interventional protocols were performed for 6 weeks. In addition, we evaluated the effect of polyherbal nanoliposomes containing four plant extracts and swimming training on the GABArα1/TRKB/DRD2/DRD1a/TH network in the substantia nigra of the midbrain tumor rat model. Data emphasized that DRD2 might be a druggable protein with the network's highest significance cut-point effect that could modulate sensory-motor impairment. Furthermore, we found Quercetin, Ginsenosides, Curcumin, and Rutin, as bioactive compounds present in Ginseng, Matthiola incana, Turmeric, and Green-Tea extracts, could bind over the DRD2 protein with approved binding affinity scores. Based on our data, swimming training, and nanoliposome-enriched combined supplements could consider effective complementary medicine for motor impairment recovery induced by the midbrain tumor in the substantia nigra area. Hence, regular swimming training and natural medicines rich in polyphenolic bioactive components and antioxidative effects could modify and improve the dopamine receptors' function.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03574-3.

Nanoliposomal delivery systems of natural antibacterial compounds; properties, applications, and recent advances

Todays, nanoliposomes (NLPs) are considered as one of the most efficient nanocarriers to deal with bacteria, practically in food products. These nanodelivery systems are able to be loaded with different bioactive compounds. The main aim of this review is investigating recent approaches (mostly from the years of 2018 to 2022) regarding development of nanoliposomal natural antibacterial compounds. In this regard, NLPs alone, combined with films, coatings, or fibers, and in coated forms are reviewed as advanced delivery systems of antibacterial substances. Moreover, a robust and comprehensive coverage of the morphological and physical properties of formulated NLPs as well as their interactions with antibacterial substances are discussed. The importance of NLPs to encapsulate antibacterial ingredients, advantages and drawbacks, antibacterial pathways of formulated NLPs, and comparison of them with pure antibacterial bioactive compounds are also explained.

Nanoscale Delivery Systems of Lutein: An Updated Review from a Pharmaceutical Perspective

Carotenoids are natural lipid-soluble pigments that produce yellow to red colors in plants as well as providing bright coloration in vegetables and fruits. Lutein belongs to the xanthophyll subgroup of the carotenoid family, which plays an essential role in photosynthesis and photoprotection in nature. In the human body, lutein, together with its isomer zeaxanthin and its metabolite meso-zeaxanthin, accumulates in the macula of the eye retina, which is responsible for central, high-resolution, and color vision. As a bioactive phytochemical, lutein has essential physiological functions, providing photoprotection against damaging blue light, along with the neutralization of oxidants and the preservation of the structural and functional integrity of cellular membranes. As a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, lutein unfortunately has a low bioavailability because of its lipophilicity and a low stability as a result of its conjugated double bonds. In order to enhance lutein stability and bioavailability and achieve its controlled delivery to a target, nanoscale delivery systems, which have great potential for the delivery of bioactive compounds, are starting to be employed. The current review highlights the advantages and innovations associated with incorporating lutein within promising nanoscale delivery systems, such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, polymer nanoparticles, and polymer–lipid hybrid nanoparticles, as well as their unique physiochemical properties.

A Narrative Review of the Potential Roles of Lipid-Based Vesicles (Vesiculosomes) in Burn Management

Burn injuries can have a lasting effect on people’s quality of life, as they negatively impact their physical and mental health. Then, they are likely to suffer psychological problems as a result. A serious problem is that deep burns are more challenging to treat due to their slow healing rate and susceptibility to microbial infection. Conventional topical medications used for burn treatment are sometimes ineffective because they cannot optimize their ability of transcutaneous absorption at the targeted site and accelerate healing. However, nanotechnology offers excellent prospects for developing current medical wound therapies and is capable of addressing issues such as low drug stability, water solubility, permeability, and bioavailability. The current review focuses on lipid-based vesicles (vesiculosomes) as an example of advanced delivery systems, showing their potential clinical applications in burn wound management. Vesiculosomes may help overcome impediments including the low bioavailability of active agents, offering the controlled release of drugs, increased drug stability, fewer side effects, and reduced dosing frequency, which will ultimately improve therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. We discuss the application of various types of vesiculosomes such as liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, cubosomes, transfersomes, and phytosomes in burn healing therapy, as these demonstrate superior skin penetration compared to conventional burn topical treatment. We also highlight their noteworthy uses in the formulation of natural products and discuss the current status as well as future perspectives of these carriers in burn management. Furthermore, the burn treatment options currently available in the market are also summarized.

Antiproliferative and Antimicrobial Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Loaded Liposomes

Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a species that is widely known for its culinary and medicinal uses. The purpose of the present study consisted of the evaluation of the antiproliferative and antimicrobial effects of R. officinalis-loaded liposomes (L-R). Characterization of the liposomes was performed by establishing specific parameters. The load of the obtained liposomes was analyzed using an LC-MS method, and antiproliferative assays evaluated the cell viability on a liver adenocarcinoma cell line and on a human hepatic stellate cell line. Antimicrobial assays were performed by agar–well diffusion and by broth microdilution assays. The obtained liposomes showed high encapsulation efficiency, suitable particle size, and good stability. High amounts of caffeic (81.07 ± 0.76), chlorogenic (14.10 ± 0.12), carnosic (20.03 ± 0.16), rosmarinic (39.81 ± 0.35), and ellagic (880.02 ± 0.14) acids were found in their composition, together with other polyphenols. Viability and apoptosis assays showed an intense effect on the cancerous cell line and a totally different pattern on the normal cells, indicating a selective toxicity towards the cancerous ones and an anti-proliferative mechanism. Antimicrobial potential was noticed against all tested bacteria, with a better efficacy towards Gram-positive species. These results further confirm the biological activities of R. officinalis leaf extract, and proposes and characterizes novel delivery systems for their encapsulation, enhancing the biological activities of polyphenols, and overcoming their limitations.

Toxicity Assessment of Resveratrol Liposomes-in-Hydrogel Delivery System by EpiVaginalTM Tissue Model

The natural polyphenol resveratrol (RES) has shown great potential as an antimicrobial, including against microbes associated with vaginal infections. To fully exploit the activities of RES, an all-natural ingredients formulation for RES delivery at vaginal site has been developed, namely liposomes loaded with RES, incorporated into a chitosan hydrogel as secondary vehicle. Although considered non-toxic and safe on their own, the compatibility of the final formulation must be evaluated for its biocompatibility and non-irritancy to the vaginal mucosa. As a preclinical safety assessment, the impact of RES formulation on the tissue viability, the effect on barrier function and cell monolayer integrity, and cytotoxicity were evaluated using the cell-based vaginal tissue model, the EpiVaginal™ tissue. RES liposomes-in-hydrogel formulations neither affected the mitochondrial activity, nor the integrity of the cell monolayer in RES concentration up to 60 µg/mL. Moreover, the barrier function was maintained to a greater extent by RES in formulation, emphasizing the benefits of the delivery system. Additionally, none of the tested formulations expressed an increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity compared to the non-treated tissues. The evaluation of the RES delivery system suggests that it is non-irritant and biocompatible with vaginal tissue in vitro in the RES concentrations considered as therapeutic.

Formulation and In Vitro Efficacy Assessment of Teucrium marum Extract Loading Hyalurosomes Enriched with Tween 80 and Glycerol

The extract of Teucrium marum L. (Lamiaceae) was obtained using the aerial parts of the plant, by means of a maceration process. Verbascoside, caffeic acids derivatives and flavonols were the main components contained in the extract as detected using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC–DAD) as an analytical method. The extract was successfully incorporated into hyalurosomes, which were further enriched by adding a water cosolvent (glycerol) and a surfactant (Tween 80), thus obtaining glycerohyalurosomes. Liposomes, transfersomes and glycerosomes were prepared as well and used as comparisons. All vesicles were small, as the mean diameter was never higher than ~115 nm, thus ideal for topical application and stable on storage, probably thanks to the highly negative surface charge of the vesicles (~−33 mV). The cryo-TEM images confirmed the formation of close-packed, oligolamellar and multicompartment hyalurosomes and glycerohyalurosomes in which around 95% of the used extract was retained, confirming their ability to simultaneously load a wide range of molecules having different chemical natures. Moreover, the extract, when loaded in hyalurosomes and glycerohyalurosomes was able to counteract the damages induced in the fibroblasts by hydrogen peroxide to a better extent (viability~110%) than that loaded in the other vesicles (viability~100%), and effectively promoted their proliferation and migration ensuring the healing of the wound performed in a cell monolayer (scratch assay) during 48 h of experiment. Overall in vitro results confirmed the potential of glycerohyalurosomes as delivery systems for T. marum extract for the treatment of skin lesions connected with oxidative stress.

Advancement of nanomedicines in chronic inflammatory disorders

Chronic diseases, as stated by the WHO, are a threat to human health which kill 3 out of every 5 people worldwide. Therapeutics for such illnesses can be developed using traditional medicine. However, it is not an easy path from natural products to Western pharmacological and pharmaceutical methods. For several decades, chronic inflammatory disorders, especially in Westernized countries, have increased incidence and prevalence. Several NSAIDs are used to decrease inflammation and pain; however, there are numerous negative consequences of these anti-inflammatory medications, whereas plant-based natural products have anti-inflammatory therapeutic benefits that have little or no adverse effects. Nanoparticles are a new type of drug delivery device that may be designed to provide excellent target selectivity for certain cells and tissues while also having a high drug loading capacity, resulting in better pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (PKPD), and therapeutic bioavailability. The size and polarity of phytochemical compounds make it hard to pass the blood–brain barrier (BBB), blood-vessel endothelial lining, gastrointestinal tract and mucosa. In addition, the gastrointestinal system is enzymatically destroyed. Therefore, nanoparticles or nanocrystals might also be used for encapsulation or conjugation of these chemicals as a method to improve their organic effectiveness through their gastrointestinal stability, absorption rate and dispersion. The therapy of numerous inflammatory illnesses, including arthritis, gastritis, Nephritis, Hepatitis (Type A, B &C), ulcerative colitis, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, allergic responses (asthma, eczema) or autoimmune disorders, is characterised by nanoparticles. This review paper provides information on the numerous nanosystem described with their probable mechanism to treat chronic inflammatory diseases.

Recent advances in lipid-engineered multifunctional nanophytomedicines for cancer targeting

Cancer is a leading cause of death in many countries around the world. However, the efficacy of current treatments available for variety of cancers is considered to be suboptimal due to the pathophysiological challenges associated with the disease which limits the efficacy of the anticancer drugs. Moreover, the vulnerability towards off-target effects and high toxicity also limits the use of drugs for the treatment of cancers. Besides, the biopharmaceutical challenges like poor water solubility and permeability of the drugs, along with the absence of active targeting capability further decreases the utility of drugs in cancer therapy. As a result of these deficiencies, the current therapeutic strategies face noncompliance to patients for providing meaningful benefits after administration. With the advancements in nanotechnology, there has been a paradigm shift in the modalities for cancer treatment with the help of phytomedicine-based nanosized drug delivery systems coupled with variegated surface-engineering strategies for targeted drug delivery. Among these delivery systems, lipid-based nanoparticles are considered as one of the highly biocompatible, efficient and effective systems extensively explored for anticancer drug delivery. These include diverse range of systems including liposomes, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipidic carriers and supramolecular carriers, which alters pharmacokinetic and biodistribution of the drugs for active targeting to the desired site of action by overcoming the biopharmaceutical challenges associated with anticancer drug delivery. The present review endeavours to provide a comprehensive account on the recent advances in the application of lipid-based nanostructured systems for improving the pharmacotherapeutic performance of phytomedicines for cancer targeting application.

Herbal Nanoformulations for Asthma Treatment

BACKGROUND

In recent decades, the prevalence of asthma has substantially increased worldwide. Advances in phytochemistry and phytopharmacology have clarified the active ingredients and biological activities of medicinal plant products for treating asthma, and the role of herbal therapies in asthma treatment has become increasingly evident. However, most plant extracts have low solubility and poor stability of bioactive components, resulting in low bioavailability and loss of efficacy. Owing to these shortcomings, the clinical use of many herbal extracts is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To summarise and analyse the characteristics of herbal nanoformulations and their application in asthma treatment. The objective of this review article is to address the emerging trends of herbal nanoformulations for an effective treatment for asthma.

METHODS

Various research and review articles from reputed international journals were referred and compiled.

RESULTS

The nano-sized herbal formulations improve the solubility and bioavailability of herbal medicines and contribute to the sustained release of drugs, thus, increasing the therapeutic applications of herbal extracts. The review present different types of herbal nanoformulations, including micelles, nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, lipid-based liquid crystalline nanoparticles and nanoemulsions, which are potential nanodrugs for asthma treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Herbal nanoformulations have shown great prospects for treatment of asthma in recent years. More safety and toxicity data are still needed to promote their development and application.