Metal-Infused Polyphenol-enriched Phyto-fabricated Nanoparticles: an In-depth Review of their Potent Prebiotic Properties

Abstract

In light of its potential health benefits, including as improved gut health and management of the gut microbiota, herbal extracts have witnessed a major increase in demand as prebiotics in recent years. Many studies have demonstrated that polyphenolrich herbal extracts can work as prebiotics by encouraging the growth of beneficial gut flora. Unfortunately, the limited solubility and stability of these herbal extracts, as well as their susceptibility to breakdown in the gastrointestinal system, can limited their bioavailability and efficiency. To address these limitations, the integration of metal nanoparticles has emerged as a promising strategy for the efficient delivery of herbal extracts, affording heightened bioavailability and precise targeting of the gut microbiota. In this paper, we present current breakthrough in metal infused nanoparticle-based assessment of herbal extracts as efficient prebiotics, with an emphasis on formulation, characterization, and biological activity. The integration of metal nanoparticles into polyphenol-rich herbal extracts represents a cutting-edge approach to enhancing the prebiotic properties of these compounds. Metal-infused polyphenol-enriched phyto-fabricated nanoparticles hold great promise for improving gut health and modulating the gut microbiota, offering innovative solutions to address the limitations associated with traditional polyphenol delivery. Furthermore, extracts of polyphenol-rich medicinal herbs such as rosehip flower, hibiscus flower, mango bark, bamboo stem, green tea, pomegranate, and dhataki flower have been investigated to assess the viability of employing these phyto generated metal infused nanoparticles as a potential prebiotic