ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors aim for a discussion on what has been learned from using liposome technology for the delivery of phytoconstituents including the overview of liposomal nanosystems, formulation and delivery aspects, and the current applications of liposomal nanocarrier systems for phytoconstituents. Liposomes have been considered novel nanocarriers for phytochemicals due to their remarkable advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, less toxicity, the capability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, and targeted drug delivery to tumor sites. Liposomes can protect the encapsulated molecules from the outer environment, ensuring their stability and structure. The food industry, especially the food processing industry, can benefit from liposomes as well, since liposomes and their advantages offer a way to increase solubility of some compounds with demanding solubility properties, and protect compounds from the outer environment and ensure their activities. The encapsulation of active compounds, especially phytoconstituents, in liposomes has remarkably improved the performance of them in comparison to free compounds.
