• Nano Phytosomes : An Innovative Herbal Approach for Targeted Tumor Therapy
  • Shima Parviz,1 Negar Azarpira,2,* Ali Mohammad Tamaddon,3
    1. Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical sciences, Shiraz, Iran
    2. Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
    3. Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran


  • Introduction: Cancer is a predominant life-threatening illness that is addressed by numerous modalities such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the preferred technique for cancer care, although it encounters certain constraints. Significant challenges identified in contemporary chemotherapy include pronounced side effects, limited therapeutic indices, and multidrug resistance. The graph of treatment resistance in cancer is rising concerning therapeutic efficacy. The 25% rise in disease burden may be attributable to resistance mutations in cancer during therapy. Prolonged conventional treatment induces acquired resistance. Traditional therapies have failed to target cancer cells precisely and need the use of nanocarriers or bioengineering for polychemotherapy. Phytochemicals are natural compounds that provide an alternative treatment strategy to reduce resistance. Phytochemicals are extracted, separated, and purified from dietary fibers or natural plants. Natural extractives operate via many mechanisms and provide optimal efficacy against resistant cancer. Phytochemicals are regarded as potential chemotherapeutics and chemopreventive agents; nevertheless, their clinical applicability may be uncertain due to inadequate bioavailability and stability. Various strategies have been used to produce efficient vehicle systems to address these challenges. Phytosome technology emerges as a possible method to improve bioavailability and address other obstacles.
  • Methods: This review provides details of the formulation approach for phytosomes and elucidates their chemical and biological features. The technological efficacy is assessed with a compilation of significant patented innovations related to phytosomes. It also emphasizes essential facts, production, characterization, proprietary methods, commercial products available in the market, and uses of phytosomes for innovative administration of herbal medications in targeted tumor therapy. The data compiled in this study was sourced from several scientific sources, including PubMed, MDPI, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar.
  • Results: The significant implications of phytochemical and chemotherapeutic combination treatment may emerge in the future, but the investigation of phytosomes is still in its infancy and requires more examination.
  • Conclusion: Targeting tumor tissues in oncotherapeutics has garnered increasing global interest during the last three decades. The urgent need to mitigate the negative effects of medications underscores the demand for breakthroughs in targeted treatments and superior alternatives to traditional chemotherapies. Phytosomes are innovative medication delivery systems created by conjugating phospholipids with hydrophilic herbal components or bioactive phytochemicals. It is beneficial for administering the herbal treatment at a specified pace, targeting the place of action, and reducing harmful effects. Enhancement of drug bioavailability, The distribution of the medicine is regulated by incorporating it into a carrier system or by modifying its molecular structure. Vesicular drug delivery methods typically function as passive targeting carriers by circumventing the immune system. In tumor treatment, phytosomes above 40 kDa and within a nanometric size range of 100–1200 nm aggressively target malignant cells owing to the improved penetration and retention impact. Passive targeting enhances the bioavailability of medications, while active targeting precisely directs the pharmaceuticals to the site of action; both are integrated into phytosomes to deliver bioactive substances.
  • Keywords: Phytosome, Cancer, Targeted therapy, Herbal medicine