This book describes the essential and cutting-edge concepts based on the frontier of pharmaceutical research in TCM, underlying scientific principles, and current advancements of drug delivery systems for Chinese medicines, including sustained-release drug delivery systems, trans-nasal drug delivery systems, dermal and transdermal drug delivery systems, etc. Novel carriers and emerging technologies (such as 3D printing) are also covered. The book provides readers with an overall picture of drug delivery systems for Chinese medicines and also yields benefits for the pharmaceutical industry with regard to TCM-based drug development.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a strong scientific basis, but the science of these important preparations is often rarely discussed. Western approaches often simplify traditional Chinese medicine to drug discovery in Chinese plants, however, the majority of traditional Chinese medications use complex mixtures of plant extracts, rather than single purified drugs. The combination of different extracts is based on yin, yang and chi theories, which are often poorly understood in the West. Yin and yang are known to be the balance of agonists and antagonists, whereas chi derives from signalling processes in the body and regulates bodily functions. Traditional Chinese medical practitioners understand that yin, yang and chi constantly interact in the body to maintain health. Western medical practitioners understand how to use agonists and antagonists and how to modify signalling processes, but generally do not accept the use of complex plant extracts to perform these functions. Aimed at medical scientists, and including detailed explanations of the theories behind the science, this text may help researchers to understand Chinese medical practitioners and to communicate more effectively with them. It will also lead to greater acceptance of traditional medications in the West. Presenting a clear rationale for the use of traditional Chinese medications in Western medical facilities, it enables scientists to find new directions in experimental design and encourage examination of these useful, but often poorly understood, preparations in clinical trials.

Providing optimal care to patients is a primary concern in the healthcare field. By utilizing the latest resources and research in biomedical applications, the needs and expectations of patients can be successfully exceeded. Novel Approaches for Drug Delivery is an authoritative reference source for the latest scholarly research on emerging developments within the pharmaceutical industry, examining the current state and future directions of drug delivery systems. Highlighting therapeutic applications, predictive toxicology, and risk assessment perspectives, this book is ideally designed for medical practitioners, pharmacists, graduate-level students, scientists, and researchers.

Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing forms of alternative medicine in the UK and USA. Essential oils are now sold in pharmacies and aromatherapy is increasingly being used in hospitals and primary care settings.This unique book takes an analytical and scientific approach to aromatherapy practices and principles based on the scientific evidence to date.The monographs cover commonly used essential oils and their therapeutic uses, details of toxicity, bioactivity, contraindications and clinical studies. This book provides pharmacists, GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals with reliable scientifically based information on this growing discipline.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Phytoconstituents discusses general principles of drug targeting, construction material and technological concerns of different phytoconstituent in delivery systems. It focuses on the development of novel herbal formulations and summarizes their method of preparation, type of active ingredients, route of administration, biological activity and their applications. It dicusses therapeutic activities of plant derived chemicals, their limitations in clinical applications and novel drug delivery solutions to overcome them to provide better therapeutic effects with controlled and targeted drug delivery. Focus on drug delivery of phytomolecules Act as bridge between natural product scientist and clinical doctors Discusses mechanism of poor bioavailability of herbal molecules Increases awareness towards phytochemical efficacy Summarizes efficient novel delivery systems-based formulations. It extensively covers the applications of novel drug delivery systems including polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid capsules, liposomes, phytosomes, microsphere, transferosomes, and ethosomes. Some chapters are especially focused on anticancer phytodrugs, silymarin, andrographolide, berberine, and curcumin delivery with special emphasis on their application.

The respiratory tract has been used to deliver biologically active chemicals into the human body for centuries. However, the lungs are complex in their anatomy and physiology, which poses challenges to drug delivery. Inhaled formulations are generally more sophisticated than those for oral and parenteral administration. Pulmonary drug development is therefore a highly specialized area because of its many unique issues and challenges. Rapid progress is being made and offers novel solutions to existing treatment problems. Advances in Pulmonary Drug Delivery highlights the latest developments in this field.

Novel drug delivery systems cover the approaches, formulation, technologies, and modes for transporting any pharmaceutical compound throughout the body to safely get the desired effect. A growing area of research is the use of herbal formulations for disease therapy. In combining these two areas of research, that of novel drug delivery systems and that of herbal formulations, the usefulness of herbs is not only proved but its future applications and effectiveness are studied. The move towards herbal-based novel drug delivery systems can benefit society in a multitude of advantageous ways. Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Herbal Formulations discusses and explores the ways of preparing herbal formulations loaded in novel drug delivery systems and the resultant improvement in efficacy of the effected drugs/herbs already available on the market. The chapters will highlight traditional and herbal formulations, the effects of novel drug delivery systems on herbal formulations, and the safe and effective preparation and effects of herbal formulations as a therapeutic intervention. This book is ideal for pharmacists, doctors, and researchers specializing in herbal therapeutics, along with practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in how herbal-based novel drug delivery systems can benefit society.