Nutraceutical-based therapeutics and formulation strategies augmenting their efficiency to complement modern medicine: An overview

Awareness of the role that nutraceuticals play in the treatment and prevention of disease has led to an explosion of research in this exciting arena that seems to overflow into the food, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Nutrients, supplements and herbal compounds have shown promise as either alternatives to modern medicine or complementary tools in the treatment and prevention of disease. This review provides a brief outlay of the advantages and challenges of nutraceutical delivery via dermatological, oral and ophthalmic routes. Emphasis is directed towards nutraceutical formulation strategies adopted to overcome physicochemical challenges and instability of natural bioactives in order to improve their delivery and bioavailability to the body. This paper highlights how novel techniques have achieved products with greater commercial viability and efficacy than their conventional counterparts. Importance of multicomponent products where individual bioactives potency is not subdued by each other has been marked. Ultimately it is the adoption and merging of the different formulation technologies and prudent scientific validation that will dictate the future success of nutraceuticals. This is especially pertinent in a market where an informed consumer demands an innovative all-in-one product that does not compromise in its results. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.