Nanofiber devices for the targeted-delivery of therapeutically active plant and herbal ingredients

Herbal and plant based remedies have been used since times immemorial for treating illnesses or maladies of variant aetiology, whereas during the past two centuries, the pharmaceutical chemists have discovered many important modern drugs from natural botanicals and microbes. Generally, herbal and plant-derived products containing multiple compounds are administered orally for therapeutic purposes. Currently, targeted drug-delivery systems are being developed and investigated for the treatment of cardio-respiratory disorders, pain relief, wound healing, and life threatening diseases like cancers. A number of novel nanofiber membranes and devices are available for sustained release and to deliver steady supply of natural bioactive ingredients, herbal-based extracts, and a few have been approved by US-FDA and other drug regulatory agencies. The purpose of this mini review is to provide an update on the role of nanofiber devices used for the targeted-delivery of therapeutically active ingredients of plant and herbal origin as well as to underscore the potential for the delivery of cost-effective herbal ingredients and natural plant-based extracts for their biomedical applications in wound healing, inflammation-related diseases and cancer treatment. Biomed Rev 2015; 26: 37-42. Key words: targeted-delivery, natural botanicals, plant-derived ingredients, nanofibrous medical devices, biodegradable and biocompatible polymers