Nutraceutical sector and nanomedicine

Abstract Nutraceutical and herbal medicines are emerging as alternatives to alleviate the side effects of conventional drugs. Bioactive compounds are abundantly found in fruits, vegetables, and daily foods. There is an increasing interest in nutraceuticals due to their palatability as well as nutritive value. The health benefits of nutraceuticals such as curcumin, carotenoids, vitamins, and caffeine have been exploited globally. Nutraceutical efficiency depends primarily on the availability and activity. Supplementation of very high doses to obtain complete activity of the nutraceutical to overcome their limited bioavailability poses a major challenge in the development of undue side effects. Changing the size of the nutraceuticals to the nanoscale enhances their bioavailability both in vitro and in vivo. Higher stability and controlled delivery can also be achieved with nanovehicles.