MODERNIZATION OF AYURVEDIC LIPID FORMULATIONS THROUGH ADVANCED NANOTECHNOLOGY: BRIDGING TRADITIONAL WISDOM AND CONTEMPORARY DRUG DELIVERY

The Ayurvedic lipid formulations like ghrita and taila made by Sneha Kalpana method are one of the most ancient lipid-based drug delivery systems among the history of pharmacy which is still beyond the scope of mainstream literature of nanotechnology or formulation science. The scientific basis for classical Sneha Kalpana preparations is briefly reviewed and more contemporary approaches to lipid-based drug delivery systems are discussed and described and are shown to converge mechanistically with the classical Sneha Kalpana formulations using the Lipid Formulation Classification System of Pouton. Polar active botanical ingredients of classical ghrita have been found to be present in micro and nano-vesicular formulation (nanosolar capsule) in the lipid matrix naturally without synthetic surfactants, through reverse engineering study by column chromatography and HPTLC analysis. The composition of fatty acid with the presence of short chain and medium chain triglyceride fraction in cow ghee along with natural existing phospholipids serves as the physicochemical basis for spontaneous nanoemulsification when diluted in the aqueous phase. Three main strategies for modernization by nanotechnology are considered: SNEDDS (reformulation for oral delivery systems); nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLPs) for topical systems; and nanoemulgel systems for the delivery systems for wounds and skin. The results show therapeutically significant improvement from the perspective of measurable improvements over conventional ghrita and preclinical evidence exists in all three domains: CNS, wound healing, metabolic, and anti-infective. The discussion covers three future directions: designing formulations using computational tools, metabolomics-based standardization, and future directions using solid-SNEDDS platforms, coupled with regulatory issues and quality by design approaches.