Nanotechnology for delivery of natural therapeutic substances: a review

Abstract

The use of natural compounds in medicine for the treatment of diseases started since ancient days. Though many natural compounds exhibit potent pharmacological activity, their medicinal application is limited by low solubility, permeability or stability. Therefore, pharmaceutical scientists are developing drug delivery systems and carriers that allow better efficacy and clinical success. For instance, nanocarriers, owing to their small size and unique surface properties, allow successful delivery of various drugs by modifying solubility, permeability and pharmacokinetics. Nanocarriers preserve encapsulated molecules from degradation and, in turn, enhance stability. Here, we review nanocarriers with focus on natural molecules including thymoquinone, resveratrol, artemisinin, silymarin, natural antibiotics and natural extracts, which are used in different disease conditions, for example Alzheimer’s, diabetes, microbial infections, inflammation and psoriasis.