Application of phytosomes in the pharmaceutical industry: opportunities and challenges for their development in Mexico
Keywords:
Phytosomes, Encapsulation, Plant extracts, PharmaceuticalAbstract
Medicinal plants contain several bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids and flavonoids, which possess therapeutic activities with notably antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects. However, their application is limited due to their low solubility, bioavailability, and stability, as well as high toxicity at high doses. To overcome these limitations, compound release systems have been developed, among which phytosomes stand out. Phytosomes are notable for their ability to form phyto-phospholipid complexes that improve the permeability, solubility, and stability of plant extracts. Phytosomes have emerged as a novel method for encapsulating phytochemical compounds, as these compounds are encapsulated within the hydrophilic head of the phospholipid, thus increasing their bioavailability. Nevertheless, in Mexico, their implementation in the pharmaceutical field remains limited due to the lack of standardization of extracts, scaling-up challenges, and weak collaboration between research and industry. This note describes a perspective on the potential of phytosomes as delivery systems for bioactive compounds and the need to promote their development, with the purpose of contributing to the discussion on their standardization and strengthening in the national context.
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