A Review on: Herbal Nasal Gel

The nasal route is used for local drug delivery and, for suitable medicines, systemic delivery. Its advantages include non-invasive administration and avoidance of hepatic first-pass metabolism for the fraction absorbed systemically. A major limitation is mucociliary clearance, which can remove conventional nasal solutions and suspensions from the nasal cavity and shorten their contact time with the mucosa. Herbal nasal gels are being investigated as dosage forms that may improve local retention through suitable viscosity and mucoadhesion. Their performance depends on the botanical material, extract composition, polymer system, excipients, formulation pH, rheology, administration method, microbiological quality and packaging. This review summarises nasal anatomy and physiology; the concept, types, advantages and limitations of nasal gels; selection of herbal ingredients and polymers; extraction and formulation methods; and relevant evaluation parameters. It also discusses the need for botanical authentication, extract standardisation, marker analysis, stability testing and local safety assessment. Recent reviews support continued investigation of intranasal natural products and mucoadhesive or in-situ gelling systems, but they also highlight translational and safety challenges. Evidence from traditional use or laboratory studies of a plant does not establish that a specific herbal nasal gel is safe or effective. Herbal nasal gels should therefore be regarded as investigational formulations until their quality, nasal tolerability and therapeutic benefit have been demonstrated through appropriate studies.