Review of Phytosomes and Ethosomes: Groundbreaking Approaches for Delivering the Phytochemical Components of Plants

Abstract

Abstract: Phytoconstituents have been widely used since ancient times to form a complex with phospholipids due to their various therapeutic actions. Despite having strong pharmacodynamic efficiency, numerous phytoconstituents have shown lower in vivo bioavailability and few adverse effects. Phytochemicals soluble in water exhibit poor absorption, leading to a limited therapeutic impact. Phytosome nanotechnology overcomes this limitation by creating a bound of phytochemicals with phospholipids. This method exhibits improved absorption because phytosomes inhibit significant herbal extract components from being degraded by gastric juices and gut flora. This improves bioavailability, increases clinical benefit, and ensures delivery to tissues without compromising nutritional stability. This review also aims to highlight those vesicular systems that could be used in phytosome technology. Additionally, this review highlights the preparation, advantage, characterization, applications, and recent development of phytosome and ethosome with a list of recent patents and marketed formulations and their uses.