Abstract

MICROSPHERES: A RELIABLE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ANTICANCER HERBAL DRUGS

*Kripi Vohra, PhD Scholar, Harish Dureja, PhD. and Vandana Garg, PhD.

Abstract

Cancer is a life-threatening disease which severely affects the overallquality of life of patients. Despite the availability of manyconventional methods of treatment and cytotoxic drugs, their clinicaloutcomes are coupled with adverse effects due to their targetunspecific nature. Nowadays, herbal anticancer agents are gainingspecial attention as an alternative system of therapy in cancer due tothe benefits associated with them such as minimal adverse effects withhigh therapeutic efficacy. However, the barriers restricting theirbioavailability warrant new drug delivery systems which may improvetheir pharmacokinetic profile. Recently, formulation of herbal productsusing novel drug delivery system (NDDS) has gained popularity due tothe advantages offered by them in comparison to conventional formulations. The presentstudy reviews the role of microspheres formulated with herbal anticancer extracts orphytochemicals in treating cancer. Microspheres are one of the NDDSs with discretespherical particle size of 1-1000 μm. Their integration to herbal anticancer agents have shownbetter patient compliance in terms of route and frequency of administration, improvedefficacy, fewer adverse effects, better solubility and stability, targeted action on tumour cellsand sustained drug release profile. Many studies also support the use of anticancer herbalmicrosphere technology in treatment of cancer by exhibiting various benefits.

Keywords: Cancer, herbal, microspheres, plant extracts, phytochemicals, novel drug delivery system.