2. Contents:
ο Introduction
ο Structure of phytosome
ο Physical properties
ο Structure of phytosome vs liposome
ο Advantages
ο Disadvantages
ο Preparation of phytosome
ο Evaluation
ο Application
ο Marketed products
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3. Introduction:
ο The term βphytoβ means plant and βsomeβ means cell-like.
ο Phytosomes are little cell like structures.
ο This is advanced form of herbal formulations which contains
the bioactive phytoconstituents of herb extracts surround and
bound by a lipid.
ο Most of bioactive constituents are water soluble compounds
like flavonoids, glycosides.
ο Because of their water soluble property and lipophilic outer
layer it shows better absorption and produce better
bioavailability.
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5. Chemical properties:
ο Phyosome is a complex between natural product and natural
phospholipid.
ο The phytosome complex is obtained by reaction of suitable
amount of phospholipid and the substrate in appropriate
solvent such as glycerol.
ο The main phospholipid-substrate interaction is due to
formation of hydrogen bonds between polar head of
phospholipid and polar functionalities of substrate.
ο When treated with water, they assume a micelle shape,
forming structures which resembles liposomes.
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6. Biological properties:
ο Phytosomes are advanced forms of herbal products
that are better absorbed, utilized and as a result
produce better results than conventional herbal
extracts.
ο Freely soluble in non-polar and aprotic solvent ;
Solvents in which the hydrophilic moiety is not present.
ο Moderately soluble in fats.
ο Insoluble in water.
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8. Phytosome vs Liposome
PHYTOSOME LIPOSOME
In this the active chemical constituent molecules
are anchored through chemical bonds to the polar
head of phospholipids.
In this active principles is dissolved in the medium
of cavity or in the layer of membrane.
Chemical bonds are formed. No chemical bonds are formed.
In phytosome, phosphatidylcholine and plant
compound form 1:1 or 2:1 complex depending on
substance.
In this hundred or thousands of
phosphatidylcholine molecules surround the
water soluble molecule.
Phytosomes are much better absorbed than
liposomes showing better bioavailability.
Bioavailability of liposomes is less than
phytosomes.
Contents of phospholipids is less higher. Contents of phospholipid is much higher.
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9. Advantages:
ο Enhanced absorption of herbal constituent.
ο As the absorption of active constituents is improved, its dose
requirement is also reduced.
ο Phosphotidylcholine acts as hepatoprotective, giving synergistic effect.
ο It shows better stability profile.
ο It assures proper delivery of drugs to the respective tissues.
ο Entrapment efficiency is high.
ο Phyotosomes are also superior to liposomes in skin care products.
ο Better bioavailability.
ο Nutritional benefit.
ο Enhanced permeation of drug through skin.
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10. Disadvantages:
ο When administered orally or topically they limit their
bioavailability.
ο Phytoconstituents is quickly eliminated from phytosome.
ο Stability problem.
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11. Different additives used in the formulation of
phytosomes:
1) phospholipids: soya phosphatidyl choline, egg phosphatidyl
choline, dipalmityl phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidylcholine,
phosphatidylethanolamine.
2) Aprotic solvent: Dioxane, acetone, methylene chloride.
3) Non-solvent: n-hexane.
4) Alcohol: ethanol, methanol.
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12. Preparation of Phytosome:
Phospholipid
β
Dissolved in organic solvent containing drug extract
β
Solution of phospholipid in organic solvent with drug extract
β
Drying/ solvent evaporation
β
Formation of thin film
β
Hydration
β
Formation of phytosomal suspension
12
13. 1) Antisolvent precipitation technique:-
Drug + soya lecithin
β
Refluxed with20ml dichloromethane at 60 degree for 2hrs.
β
Concentrate mixture to 5-10ml
β
Add hexane 20ml
β
Filter the ppt formed. Dry, crush and pass through #100
13
14. 2) Rotary evaporation technique:
Drug and soya lecithin
β
Dissolved in 30ml of tetrahydrofuran
β
stirring for 3hours at a temperature not exceeding 40degree
β
Thin film is formed
β
Add n-hexane with stirring
β
Precipitate obtained
β
Dry and pass through mesh
β
Phytosomes formed
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15. 3) Solvent evaporation method:
Drug and soya lecithin
β
Refluxed with 20ml of acetone at a temperature 50-60 degree for
2hours
β
Concentrate mixture to 5-10ml
β
Obtain the precipitate
β
Filter and collect
β
phytosomes obtained
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16. Evaluation:
1) Determination of entrapment efficiency:- the entrapment
efficiency of a phytosomal formulation can be determined by
subjecting the formulation to ultracentrifugation technique.
2) Determination of vesicle size and zeta potential:- It can be
determined by dynamic light scattering which uses a
computerized inspection system and photon correlation
spectroscopy.
3) Surface tension activity measurement:- It can be measured by
ring method using Du Nouy ring tensiometer. The surface
tension of drug is measured.
4) Spectroscopic evaluation:- it is employed in order to confirm the
formation of complex as well as to study interactions between 16
17. 5) Determination of drug content:- drug content of phytosome
complex was determined by dissolving 100mg of complex in
10ml of methanol. After dilution, absorbance was determined by
UV spectrophotometer at 269nm.
6) In-vitro and In-vivo evaluation:- this can be done according to
therapeutic activity measurement parameters of biologically
active phytoconstituents present in phytosomes.
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18. Applications:
1) Silymarin phytosome:
ο Most of the phytosomes are focused to silybum marianum which
contains liver protective flavonoids.
ο The fruit of the milk thistle plant ( S. marianum family-
steraceae) contains flavonoids for hepato protective effect.
ο Silymarin has been shown to have positive effects in treating
liver diseases of various kinds including hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty
infiltration of the liver and inflammation of the bile duct.
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19. 2) Phytosomes of grape seed:
ο Grape seed phytosome is composed of oligomeric polyphenols of
varying molecular size complexed with phospholipids.
ο The main properties of procyanidin flavonoids of grape seed are
an increase in total antioxidant capacity and stimulation of
physiological defense of plasma.
3) Phytosome of green tea:
ο Green tea leaves is characterized by presence of polyphenolic
compound epigallocatechin-3-0-gallate as the key component.
ο These are potent modulator of several biochemical process
linked to the breakdown of homeostasis in major chronic
degenerative diseases like cancer and atherosclerosis.
ο It has also beneficial activities like antioxidant, anticarcinogenic,19
20. 4) Phytosomes of curcumin:
ο Maiti et al developed the phytosomes of curcumin ( flavonoid
from turmeric, curcuma longa linn) and naringenin ( flavonoid
from grape, vitis vinifera).
ο Phytosome of naringenin produced better antioxidant activity
than the free compound with a prolonged deviation of action.
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23. Reference:
ο Semalty A, Semalty M, Singh R, Rawat MSM. Phytosomes in herbal drug
delivery. Indian drugs 2006; page no: 937-946.
ο Zhang J, Tang Q, Xu X, Li N. Development and evaluation of a novel
phytosome -loaded chitosan microsphere system for curcumin delivery.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics 2013; 448:168β 174. 14.
ο Habbu P, Madagundi S, Kulkarni R, Jadav S, Vanakudri R, Kulkarni V, et al.
Preparation and evaluation of Bacopa phospholipids complex for antiamnesic
activity in rodents. Drug invention today 2013; 5(1): 13 - 21.
ο Parris K, Kathleen H, A review of the bioavailability and clinical efficacy of milk
thistle phytosome: a silybinphosphatidylcholine complex, Altern Med Rev,
10(3), 2005, 193-203.
ο Gupta A, Ashawat MS, Saraf S, Phytosome: A novel approach towards
functional cosmetics, J Plant sci, 2(6), 2007, 644-649.
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