Unlocking the Potential Use of Berry Anthocyanins as Pharmaceutical Excipients and Nanocarriers: Evidence from the Last Decades

Secondary metabolites, particularly natural phenolic compounds, have been a target of many studies and are a hot issue in the medical and scientific communities, due to their diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. This bioactive potential has raised the prospect of their application as pharmaceutical excipients and nanocarriers. Among them, anthocyanins, which are abundant in berries and highly valued by consumers, stand out as promising candidates. Their chemical structure not only enables them to protect drugs from oxidative degradation but also supports their role in drug delivery systems, particularly under acidic conditions. Moreover, their pH-dependent color changes make them suitable as eco-friendly indicators and sensors. The current review aims to summarize recent advances on the excipient and nanocarrier potential of berry phenolics. Although current data on anthocyanins as excipients and nanocarriers remain limited, available evidence highlights their potential and urges additional in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies.