Phytoantioxidants refer to chemicals of plant origin such as flavonoids (flavones, flavonones, flavonols, flavononol, isoflavones, and flavan-3-ols) and other polyphenols (phenolic acids, stilbenes, lignans, and tannins). Phytoantioxidants have been reported to act against parasitic diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, leishmaniasis, Zika virus, and helminth parasites) and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) (Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, fascioliasis, human African trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, and schistosomiasis). However, phytoantioxidants are poorly absorbed in the gut, intestines, and colon. Factors such as food matrix interactions, the extent of liver metabolisms, and intestinal microflora also affect the bioavailability of phytoantioxidants. Due to this, phytoantioxidants have low solubility, bioavailability, bioactivity, and increased toxicity. These issues of phytoantioxidants can be solved with nanoformulations such as nanotransferosomes, nanoemulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers, polylactide nanoparticles, polyurea dendrimer nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, eudragit-nutriosomes, cyclodextrin-based nanosponge, polymeric nanoparticles, graphene oxide-based nanoformulation, polymeric micelles, nanocrystals, water-soluble copolymer-encapsulated nanoparticle, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, liposomes, liquid crystalline nanoparticles, and zein and hyaluronic acid-based nanoparticles. In this chapter, phytoantioxidants and their nanoformulations, which showed activity against parasitic diseases and NTDs, are highlighted. Several research gaps are identified that will pave the way to develop clinically feasible nanoformulated-phytoantioxidants for the treatment of parasitic diseases and NTDs.
Authors: James H. Zothantluanga, Zonunmawii, Punamjyoti Das, Himangshu Sarma, Abd. Kakhar Umar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119811794.ch16
Publish Year: 2022
