Phytosomal Drug Delivery Systems.

Certain of the water-soluble flavonoid molecules can be converted into lipid-compatible molecular complexes, aptly called phytosomes. Phytosomes are better able to transition from a hydrophilic environment into the lipid-friendly environment of the outer cell membrane, and from there into the cell, finally reaching the blood. The term "phyto" means plant while "some" means cell-like. Phytosome is a complex of a natural active ingredient and a phospholipid. It is claimed that phytosome increases absorption of "conventional herbal extracts" or isolated active principles. The phytosome process is that combines herbal extracts and soybean phospholipids (lecithin). phytosomes are created when the standardized extract and active ingredients of a herb are bound to the phospholipids on a molecular level. The newly created Phytosome structures contain the active ingredients of the herb surrounded by the phospholipids. The phospholipid molecular structure includes a water-soluble head and two fat-soluble tails. Because of this dual solubility, the phospholipid acts as an effective emulsifier. The newly created phytosome structures contain the active ingredients of the herb surrounded by the phospholipids. The phospholipid molecular structure includes a water-soluble head and two fat-soluble tails. Because of this dual solubility, the phospholipid acts as an effective emulsifier. An emulsifier is a material that can combine two liquids that normally will not mix well together. By combining the emulsifying action of the phospholipids with the standardized botanical extracts, the phytosome form provides dramatically enhanced bioavailability and delivers faster and improved absorption of the active constituents of the herb in the intestinal tract.