1,7*Assistant Professor, Crescent School of Pharmacy, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology, Vandalur, Chennai-48, India-600048. Email: areyvaishnavireddy1993@gmail.com (Corresponding Author)
2Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Narayana Pharmacy College, Chinthareddy Palem - Nellore, Andhra Pradesh-524 004.
3Department of Pharmaceutics, Malla Reddy Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mallareddy Vishwavidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Maisammaguda, Hyderabad 500100, Telangana, India.
4Associate Professor, Jagan's College of Pharmacy, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
5Professor & Head, Department of Pharmacognosy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai.
6Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai.
Background: Colon-targeted herbal therapeutics have emerged into the limelight as a consequence of their natural safety profile and multi-target pharmacology being applied in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and microbial infections. However, most of the herbal compounds are typified by poor stability, low solubility and degradation in the upper gastrointestinal system thus restricting their treatment ability. Nanoformulations strategies offer the possible solution of maintaining phytochemicals during delivery, increasing adhesion at the mucus, and delivering to the colon with controlled delivery or stimuli-sensitive delivery.
Pharmacognostic Basis: The phytochemical composition and bioconversion with colonic microflora are the most important knowledge of the pharmacognostic properties of the botanical identity of the plant, which is essential to select the appropriate actives of the plant.
Formulation Strategies: Polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based carriers and polysaccharide-triggered systems are such sophisticated nanotechnology platforms that have demonstrated improved delivery efficacy and bioavailability.
Conclusion: These nanoformulations have been demonstrated as having a higher anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in in vitro and in vivo studies that render these nanoformulations next-generation therapeutic in colon-targeted therapy.
Keywords: Colon targeting, herbal compounds, nanocarriers, pharmacognosy, controlled release, phytochemicals.
How to cite this article: Sandeep T, Sindhura CL, Kumar KS, Raviteja N, Thirumalaikumaran R, Siddavatam PKR, Vaishnavi A. Colon-Targeted Nanoformulations of Herbal Compounds: Pharmacognostic Basis, Formulation Strategies, and Pharmacological Outcomes. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(13s): 564-577. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.13s.64
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None