BIOPHARMACEUTICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF PLANT-BASED THERAPEUTICS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Plant-based therapeutics have gained significant attention in modern healthcare due to their diverse pharmacological activities and historical use in traditional medicine systems. However, their successful clinical translation is often limited by complex biopharmaceutical challenges, including poor solubility, low bioavailability, variable absorption, and instability of active phytoconstituents. The pharmacokinetic behavior of herbal compounds is influenced by multiple factors such as physicochemical properties, metabolism, and interactions with biological membranes and transporters. Additionally, variability in plant sources, extraction methods, and formulation approaches contributes to inconsistent therapeutic outcomes. Advances in drug delivery systems, including nanotechnology-based carriers, lipid formulations, and bio enhancers, have shown promise in overcoming these limitations and improving clinical efficacy. Regulatory considerations, standardization, and quality control are also critical to ensure safety and reproducibility. This review highlights the key biopharmaceutical aspects of plant-based therapeutics and discusses strategies to optimize their clinical performance.