Nanotechnology: A Spark to the Use of Plant Origin Bioactive Compounds in Therapeutics

With the advent of LC-MS, identification and characterization of compounds from plant origin has become very easy now a day. In this effort, several plant-based compounds have been identified possessing therapeutic propensities. This category includes cruciferous vegetables, garlic, ginger, onions, soybeans, and turmeric [1]. Such efforts propel us for large-scale screening of taxonomically authenticated dietary, edible and medicinally important plants for isolation of many more bioactive compounds. Unfortunately, limitation to the use of such compounds in clinical remedies is that of their bioavailability and targeted delivery [2]. Now nanotechnology seems to have potential solutions to both of these limitations. Encapsulation of bioactive compounds using biodegradable matrices like chitosan, polylactides etc. can enhance the solubility, controlled release as well as provide surface to the ligands for targeted delivery [3]. Hence, there is a need to provide the spark to bioactive compounds using nanotechnology for their effective use in therapeutics.