Systematic Review of Plant-Based Excipients in Topical Drug Delivery

Abstract

This review explores the use of plant-based excipients in topical drug delivery. The review examines the advantages and challenges of using plant-based excipients, as well as case studies that demonstrate their effectiveness in delivering drugs through the skin. The review also discusses future perspectives on the use of plant-based excipients, including the potential for developing new formulations and improving drug delivery efficiency. The findings of this review suggest that plant-based excipients have significant potential in topical drug delivery and could offer a more sustainable and natural alternative to synthetic excipients. Overall, this review provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in the pharmaceutical industry who are interested in developing new and innovative drug delivery systems.

Introduction

The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a significant shift toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This transition is driven by the dual need to improve patient safety and minimize the ecological footprint of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. A key strategy in this evolution is the incorporation of plant-based excipients in topical drug delivery systems. These natural components align with green chemistry principles, which prioritize sustainable products and processes and offer various scientific advantages over traditional synthetic excipients.

Traditional synthetic excipients used in topical formulations have raised concerns regarding their environmental impact and potential health consequences. As scientific research continues to highlight these issues, there is a growing emphasis on finding sustainable alternatives in pharmaceutical formulations. Plant-based excipients derived from renewable resources offer a promising solution. They not only address environmental concerns but also have the potential to enhance the safety and therapeutic efficacy of topical drug formulations. The objective of this comprehensive review was to provide a systematic analysis of the current state of plant based excipients in topical dosage forms.

We aimed to (1) assess the environmental benefits associated with the use of plant-derived excipients in pharmaceutical formulations,4 (2) evaluate the safety and biocompatibility profiles of these excipients for topical medication administration,5 (3) identify the challenges involved in integrating plant-based excipients and propose potential solutions,6 and (4) highlight case studies and research projects that demonstrate the successful application of plant-derived components in topical formulations.

The significance of plant-based excipients lies in their potential to provide sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic counterparts, contributing to the pharmaceutical industry’s commitment to ecofriendly practices. With increasing demand for natural and biodegradable materials, it is imperative to explore the scientific foundations of plantbased excipients to develop formulations that meet therapeutic requirements and environmental sustainability goals. This review is structured to provide an in-depth examination of plant-basedexcipients used intopical dosageforms. It includes sections onthebenefits of plant-derivedexcipients, commonly used plant-based materials, challenges in their application, case studies of successful implementations, and future perspectives for sustainable drug development.

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Materials and Methods

This review involved a search of electronic data bases, including PubMed, Scopus, andGoogle Scholar, using keywords related to plant-based excipients and topical drug delivery. The search was restricted to articles published in English over the past two decades. Relevant articles were identified, and their references were checked for additional sources. Studies were included if they (1) investigated plant-based excipients in topical drug formulations, (2) provided data on the biocompatibility, efficacy, or environmental impact of these excipients, and (3) were published in peer-reviewed journals. We excluded studies if they (1) focused solely on oral or systemic drug delivery systems, (2) needed to provide sufficient data on the plant based excipients used, or (3) were not peer-reviewed. Data were extracted from the included studies regarding the types of plant-based excipients used, their functions in topical formulations, advantages, challenges, and outcomes of their application. The extracted data were synthesized into thematic categories for detailed analysis.

Table 1 Most used planet-based excipients in topical dosage forms and their function

Material	Function	Description
Cellulose	Thickener, gelling agent	Enhances stability and texture of formulations
Starch	Thickener, gelling agent	Provides rheological properties and influences drug release
Guar gum	Thickener, stabilizer	Improves consistency and feel of gels and creams
Carrageenan	Thickener, stabilizer, gelling agent	Increases viscosity and stability
Xanthan gum	Thickener, stabilizer	Enhances consistency and stability
Agar-agar	Gelling agent	Improves texture and structure of formulations
Olive oil	Emollient	Enhances skin hydration
Coconut oil	Emollient, thickener	Provides antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties
Beeswax	Emollient, thickener	Enhances skin hydration and product stability
Shea butter	Emollient	Offers moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties
Chamomile extract	Active agent	Provides anti-inflammatory and soothing effects
Aloe vera extract	Active agent	Offers soothing and wound-healing properties
Green tea extract	Active agent	Provides anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects
Calendula extract	Active agent	Offers anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties
Myrrh resin	Healing agent	Provides antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
Frankincense resin	Fragrance, aromatic	Provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
Lavender oil	Fragrance, aromatic	Offers calming and antibacterial effects

Mohammad Nammas, Systematic Review of Plant-Based Excipients in Topical Drug Delivery, Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences © 2024. The Libyan Biotechnology Research Center. Article published online: 2024-11-12, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1791500. ISSN 1947-489X.