ETHOSOMAL-BASED POLYHERBAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR PSORIASIS MANAGEMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Uma Shankar Joshi, S. K. Gupta, Vivek Gupta, Jitendra Kumar Malik
ABSTRACT
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory skin disorder characterized by erythematous plaques, scaling, itching, and abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes. Conventional therapies used in psoriasis management often suffer from limitations such as poor skin penetration, systemic adverse effects, low patient compliance, and long-term toxicity. In recent years, vesicular drug delivery systems, particularly ethosomes, have emerged as promising carriers for enhanced topical and transdermal drug delivery. Ethosomes are soft, malleable phospholipid vesicles containing high concentrations of ethanol that improve drug permeation through the stratum corneum and facilitate deeper penetration into skin layers. Incorporation of polyherbal formulations into ethosomal systems offers synergistic therapeutic benefits due to the presence of multiple bioactive phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, phenolics, and glycosides possessing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and wound-healing activities. Ethosomal-based polyherbal drug delivery systems enhance drug stability, bioavailability, controlled release, and targeted delivery while minimizing systemic toxicity and adverse effects. Phytochemical investigation plays a crucial role in identifying and standardizing the active constituents responsible for therapeutic efficacy. This review comprehensively discusses the pathophysiology of psoriasis, composition and mechanism of ethosomes, methods of preparation, characterization techniques, phytochemical evaluation, and recent advances in polyherbal ethosomal formulations for effective psoriasis management. The review highlights the significant potential of combining herbal therapeutics with ethosomal nanotechnology as a safer, efficient, and patient-friendly approach for psoriasis treatment.
[Full Text Article]