The role of nano-natural products in healthcare

Abstract

Medicinal plants play a vital role in the well-being of human beings and society, as the components present in them get absorbed into the bloodstream, pass through the body's metabolism and help in treating disorders. Different plant sources such as roots, stem, bark and seeds contain various secondary components such as "steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids" which are responsible for wide range of biological activities. Literature study also shows that medicinal plants have broad spectrum biological activity in the treatment of various diseases like cancer, diabetes, malaria with neurological disorders etc. Medicines obtained from natural products are safer for human health than synthetic drugs like taxol (Taxus brevifolia), and quinine (Cinchona species), artemisinin (Artemisia annua) etc. Along with the low bioabsorption capacity of these drugs, they reach the target site slowly and their structure changes from time to time, as a result of which they are used in limited quantities only. The drug obtained from natural products has low bio-absorption availability as well as slow delivery to reach the target site, and due to changes in their structure from time to time, they are useful only in limited quantities. To make the above mentioned effects more useful, natural medicines are being modified into nanomaterials. The introduction of nanomaterials in this field has demonstrated increased bioavailability as well as reduced toxicity. Reported literature suggests that drug carrier nanoparticles and drug nanocrystals among them are used to enhance drug-receptor interactions, easily cross the biological membrane barrier, and prevent systemic toxicity of drugs. Lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, polymer nanoparticles, and inorganic nanoparticles have been used to prepare nanomedicines. Recently, various phytoconstituents like as quercetin, silymarin, and vitamin D have been used as nanomaterials in cancer treatment. Their use has been made necessary to prevent disorders in various diseases and for the well-being of society.