ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the main features of phytosomes, carriers made up of phospholipids and phytoconstituents, that have achieved considerable prominence as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. Phytosomes, called herbosomes, are advanced herbal formulations able to increase the passage of active compounds through the skin layer when administered by dermal and transdermal route or to enhance their bioavailability when administrated by oral route as compared to the common plant extract. An excellent cosmeceutical product should be safe, efficacious, stable, able to be metabolized by the skin, and also have low manufacturing costs. The cosmeceuticals are divided into five categories: anti-inflammatory, depigmenting, barrier enhancing, antioxidant, and skin-renewal agents. The nano-cosmeceuticals containing phytoderivatives are innovative systems to be used for skin health and beauty and as a sunscreen, and for anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, and whitening applications. An innovative approach was to develop a formulation composed of phytosomes and microemulsions in order improve the skin absorption of the bioactives it contained.
