Self-nano Emulsifying Formulations: An Encouraging Approach for Bioavailability Enhancement and Future Perspective

Currently lipid-based formulations are playing a vital and promising role in improving the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Lipid based formulations mainly consist of a drug dissolved in lipids such as triglycerides, glycerides, oils and surface active agent. Self nanoemulsifying formulations (SNEF) are isotropic mixtures of lipids/oils, surfactants and co-surfactants. On mild agitation followed by dilution in aqueous media, such as GI fluids, SNEF can form fine oil-in-water (o/w) nanoemulsions. Present chapter summarizes different types of lipid formulations with special emphasis on SNEF, availability of dosage forms, different components with natural surfactants from medicinal plants, mechanism of SNEF, recent advancements in oral drug delivery, solid SNEDDS, patents on SNEF and future prospects. SNEF emerging as powerful technique to improve solubility and commercialization of solid SNEF is the future novel drug delivery to improve bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs

Deer antlers- Traditional use and future perspectives

245-251Antlers are bony skeletal protuberances of the skull, and consist mainly of the protein collagen and the mineral calcium hydroxyapatite. Antlers occur in most species of the deer family (Cervidae) and are grown and shed annually, typically only by males. Traditional medical reports and clinical observations show that antler is biologically active to cure various diseases. To make antler products acceptable as nutraceuticals and functional foods, chemical and biological properties of velvet antlers have to be clearly determined. Antlers are made of chemical components consisting of sugars, fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleotides as essential molecules, which become macromolecules such as polysaccharides, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, respectively. For their physicochemical properties, each of these macromolecules is responsible for not only antler growth and development, but also biomedical and nutraceuticals uses of antlers. Therefore, understanding chemical and molecular characteristics of antlers is crucially important to elucidate the clinical and medicinal efficacies of antlers. Hence, the review highlights information about various species of deer, its farming, antler preparation, antler composition, its traditional uses and scientific substantiation to it, dose and its future scope