Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part F (2025)

A drug's bioavailability is critical to its therapeutic efficacy. Chemicals with significant medical potential frequently exhibit poor pharmacokinetics due to low solubility and permeability. Bioenhancers are novel concepts that alter the pharmacokinetics of medications with low bioavailability. Since ancient times, the Ayurvedic medical system has been the first to use a herbal bioenhancer. Herbal bioenhancers are safer, more effective, and widely available. The Ayurvedic pharmaceutical system was the first to use a herbal bioenhancer in antiquity. Herbal bioenhancers provide increased safety, efficacy, and availability. Ginger, caraway, aloe, piperine, quercetin, and curcumin are some of the most popular herbal bioenhancers. Herbal bioenhancers are increasingly being used in drug delivery research to improve the bioavailability, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceuticals.
Herbal bioenhancers enhance the bioavailability of nutraceuticals, antibiotics, anticancer, antitubercular, and cardiovascular medications, resulting in a speedier onset of effect. Bioenhancers influence drug membrane permeability and presystemic metabolism, reducing the therapeutic efficacy of potent drugs. Herbal bioenhancers are being used in a variety of novel medication delivery techniques including nanotechnology, as well as standard dosages. Herbal bioenhancers are used in modern drug delivery methods, including as liposomes, transferosomes, ethosomes, and nanoparticles, to increase drug bioavailability via many routes of administration. This chapter presents new insights into contemporary trends in herbal bioenhancers, their biomedical applications, and the current patent landscape.