NOVEL APPROACH OF HERBAL BASED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT OF VAGINAL INFECTION

Vaginal infections, including vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis, are common conditions that affect women's reproductive health and quality of life. Conventional treatments, such as antibiotics and antifungal agents, may be associated with recurrence, antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation, and local irritation. Therefore, novel herbal-based drug delivery systems have gained attention as potential approaches for improving localized treatment. This review discusses the female reproductive system, vaginal microbiota, major vaginal infections, their clinical significance, and the limitations of conventional therapies. It explores novel vaginal drug delivery approaches, including liposomes, niosomes, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and mucoadhesive in-situ gelling systems, which may improve drug stability, vaginal retention, and controlled release. Selected medicinal plants, including Nigella sativa, Myrtus communis, Melissa officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, and Punica granatum, are discussed for their reported antimicrobial and antifungal potential. Marketed formulations, including Palomacare® Vaginal Gel, Acidosalus® Vaginal Suppositories, Bioapigyn® V Antiviral Pessaries, and Himalaya V-Gel Vaginal Gel, are also reviewed to illustrate existing herbal and combination-based vaginal preparations. Future research should focus on standardized herbal ingredients, formulation stability, mucoadhesion, antibiofilm activity, vaginal mucosal safety, and preservation of beneficial vaginal microbiota. Overall, integrating herbal bioactive compounds with advanced drug delivery technologies may offer promising strategies for vaginal infection management; however, further experimental and clinical evidence is required to establish their safety and therapeutic effectiveness.