Abstract: Increased cases of fungal infections have become a significant public health concern, exacerbated by improvements in host predisposition characteristics. It is crucial to develop new and innovative methods to prevent drug resistance and combat fungal diseases. To protect humans from newly evolved, disease-causing, drug-resistant fungal infections, it is essential to develop new antifungals in response to the gradual emergence of fungal strains that resist one or more antifungals. While toxicity is a concern, various inorganic and organic chemicals have been developed as antifungals. However, many alternatives, such as medicinal plant extracts with strong antifungal properties and good biocompatibility, have faced challenges due to their limited water solubility, which reduces bioavailability. A promising solution is to use a nanotechnological approach that involves encapsulating or trapping phytochemicals in hydrophilic capping agents, either inorganic or organic. This methodology appears to offer a promising avenue for enhancing the effectiveness of these natural compounds. Recently, the field of medicine has greatly benefited from the use of herbal extracts and their phytomedicines. This article provides an overview of novel approaches that have been investigated to enhance the efficacy of herbal antifungal treatments and reduce the side effects of conventional drugs. These challenges can be addressed through innovative drug delivery strategies that enhance bioavailability and antifungal activity. Additionally, incorporating drugs into innovative systems can significantly reduce their toxicity and enhance the medicinal effects of plant extracts and oils. Therefore, the effective delivery of herbal actives by antifungal agents is facilitated by the use of nanocarriers, such as ethosomes, liposomes, transferosomes, phytosomes, and dendrimers, to the intended location. The methods for delivering herbal nano-formulations to improve antifungal therapy and minimize adverse effects associated with traditional therapy are summarized in the current study. The article also emphasizes the usage of herbal nanocarriers, which have shown the ability to treat a range of fungal illnesses caused by various fungi.
Saini et al. (Wed,) studied this question.