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. 2008 Jul-Aug;70(4):415-22.
doi: 10.4103/0250-474X.44587.

Herbal excipients in novel drug delivery systems

A Shirwaikar, Annie Shirwaikar, S Lakshmana Prabu, G Aravind Kumar

Herbal excipients in novel drug delivery systems

A Shirwaikar et al. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2008 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

The use of natural excipients to deliver the bioactive agents has been hampered by the synthetic materials. However advantages offered by these natural excipients are their being non-toxic, less expensive and freely available. The performance of the excipients partly determines the quality of the medicines. The traditional concept of the excipients as any component other than the active substance has undergone a substantial evolution from an inert and cheap vehicle to an essential constituent of the formulation. Excipients are any component other than the active substance(s) intentionally added to formulation of a dosage form. This article gives an overview of herbal excipients which are used in conventional dosage forms as well as novel drug delivery systems.

Keywords: Polysaccharides; controlled delivery; volatile oils.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Structure of alginic acid.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Structures of (A) amylopectin or α- amylase and (B) β-amylose.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Structure of guar gum.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Structure of xanthan gum.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Structures of A. menthol, B. cineole, C. carvone and D.limonene.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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