ABSTRACT

The plant active molecules uses in home remedies have been relocated increasingly to the modern treatment. However, some of them have long side chains and high polarity that causes not to be able to pass through lipidic skin or intestine cell membranes by passive diffusion. Novel complexation technique named as ‘phytosome’ plays an important role to facilitate absorption and improve bioavailability. Drug molecules from natural sources and dietary soy phospholipids are complexed and generated cell-like structures. Up till now, the researchers have studied many phyto-phospholipid complexesas drug delivery systemcarrying out different methods (nonsolvent precipitating, supercritical fluids etc.) and provided pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic progresses. A lot of phytosome formulations are still under clinical trials and some of them on market. This presented review includes phytosome’s properties advantages, preparation methods, dosage forms and marketed products. In this review, introducing the most important points in phytosome and canalizing the researchers to this drug delivery system designed for herbal extracts/molecules are aimed.