Secondary metabolites are compounds of living organisms that are not incorporated directly in growth or reproduction of an organism but are produced to confer value-added advantages.
Published in Chapter:
Encapsulation of Flavonoids in Nanocarriers: A Novel Strategy to Enhance Their Bioefficacy and Oral Bioavailability
Ashfaq Ahmad Shah (Graphic Era University (Deemed), India) and Amit Gupta (Graphic Era University (Deemed), India)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 17
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-8251-0.ch010
Abstract
The term “flavonoid” is a broad term given to the collection of natural polyphenolic compounds which occur in plants (fruits, vegetables, roots, flowers, stems, bark, leaves) as their secondary metabolites. Subsequent research reveals that flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidative, anti-ageing, and anti-carcinogenic effects along with their capacity to modulate enzymatic activities, inhibit cell proliferation, and inhibit bacterial growth, among others. The main shortcomings of oral administration of flavonoids as therapeutic that various studies have revealed are related to their stability, bioefficacy, and bioavailability. Novel nanotechnological strategies involving nanocarrier systems are proving promising to overcome the delivery challenge of flavonoids as therapeutics. Nanocapsules, nanospheres, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, micelles are examples of novel nanocarrier systems that are currently being explored for targeted and efficient bio functioning of flavonoids after their oral administration.