Publications

Research outputs, reports, policy briefs and knowledge products from KIU scholars and partners.

2025 School of Pharmacy EURASIAN EXPERIMENT JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL SCIENCES (EEJMMS)

Narrative Review of Herbal Nanomedicines

Bwanbale Geoffrey David

Herbal nanomedicine represents a rapidly evolving field that combines the therapeutic potential of plant-derived bioactive compounds with the technological advantages of nanocarriers. Traditional herbal formulations often face challenges such as poor solubility, low bioavailability, instability, and rapid metabolism, which limit their clinical efficacy. Nanotechnology provides novel strategies to overcome these barriers by enhancing the delivery, controlled release, and pharmacokinetics of herbal drugs. Various nanoformulations, including nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, polymeric micelles, and solid lipid nanoparticles, have been investigated to encapsulate phytochemicals such as curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and silymarin, demonstrating improved therapeutic outcomes. These systems have shown promise in the prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, microbial infections, and neurodegenerative disorders. Despite encouraging preclinical evidence, the transition of herbal nanomedicines from laboratory to clinic remains limited due to regulatory challenges, lack of standardization, and insufficient large-scale clinical trials. This review highlights current advances in herbal nanomedicine, explores their mechanisms of improved efficacy, and discusses prospects for integrating nanoformulated phytochemicals into modern healthcare.