Natural-based consumer health nanoproducts: medicines, cosmetics, and food supplements

Abstract In recent years, the scientific community has seen increasing use of natural compounds instead of chemical compounds in medicines, food supplements, cosmetics, and dermatological products. Nanotechnology, mainly used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, has also been increasingly used. In this context the purpose of nanotechnology is to increase the stability of active compounds, to modulate their release, as well as to improve the solubility of poorly water-soluble compounds. In this chapter, we will discuss key examples of natural products and their biological activities, as well as the advantages of using nanotechnology, combining them in food supplements, cosmetics, and dermatological products, with a brief overview of current products on the market.