FROM FUNCTIONAL FOODS TO PHARMACEUTICAL NUTRACEUTICALS: ADVANCES IN POLYPHENOL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, BIOAVAILABILITY, AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Polyphenols are bioactive compounds and have a variety of pharmaceutical properties, such as antioxidant, anti inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, neuroprotective and antidiabetic effects. Yet, these are in need of improvement due to their poor aqueous solubility, bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and limited stability for clinical applications. This review highlights recent developments of pharmaceutical strategies that could be used to overcome these shortcomings and enhance the therapeutic potential of polyphenols. The literature search was performed to identify peer-reviewed publications on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and SpringerLink between 2015 and 2025 to retrieve articles. The relevant studies were screened and the relevant literature critically synthesized to assess the progress made in polyphenol bioavailability, drug delivery systems and therapeutic applications. In recent years, the desired bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of polyphenols has been achieved through their formulation in nano-systems such as liposomes, phytosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nano-emulsions, micelles, and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, which have improved the stability, absorption, controlled release, and targeted delivery of polyphenols. Notwithstanding these developments, there is a need to address the issues of scale up manufacturing, regulatory approval, long-term safety and clinical validation. Going forward, development of formulation science and nanotechnology will make it easier to progress polyphenols in the realms of functional food components to actual pharmaceutical nutraceuticals for prevention and management of chronic diseases.