Advancing the Physicochemical Properties and Therapeutic Potential of Plant Extracts Through Amorphous Solid Dispersion Systems

Plant extracts demonstrate significant potential as a rich source of active pharmaceutical ingredients, exhibiting diverse biological activities and minimal toxicity. However, the low aqueous solubility of extracts and their gastrointestinal permeability, as well as their poor oral bioavailability, limit clinical advancements due to drug delivery problems. An amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) delivers drugs by changing an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into an amorphous state to increase the solubility and availability of the API to the body. This research aimed to analyze and summarize the successful advancements of ASD systems derived from plant extracts, emphasizing characterization and the effects on dissolution and pharmacological activity. The results show that ASD systems improve phytoconstituent dissolution, bioavailability, and stability, in addition to reducing dose and toxicity. This research demonstrates the significance of ASD in therapeutic formulations to augment the pharmacological activities and efficacy of medicinal plant extracts. The prospects indicate promising potential for therapeutic applications utilizing ASD systems, alongside medicinal plant extracts for clinical therapy.