Harnessing the power of novel drug delivery systems for effective delivery of apigenin: an updated review

Phytochemicals as dietary components are being extensively explored in order to prevent and treat a wide range of diseases. Apigenin is among the most studied flavonoids found in significant amount in fruits (oranges), vegetables (celery, parsley, onions), plant-based beverages (beer, tea, wine) and herbs (thyme, chamomile, basil, oregano) that has recently gained interest due to its promising pharmacological effects. However, the poor solubility and extended first pass metabolism of apigenin limits its clinical use. Various advantages have been demonstrated by nanocarrier-based platforms in the delivery of hydrophobic drugs like apigenin to diseased tissues. Apigenin nanoformulations have been reported to have better stability, high encapsulation efficiency, prolonged circulation time, sustained release, enhanced accumulation at targeted sites and better therapeutic efficacy. An overview of the major nanocarriers based delivery including liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers etc., is described. This review sheds insight into the therapeutic effects and advanced drug delivery strategies for the delivery of apigenin.