A Comprehensive Review on Nutraceutical

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are food-derived substances with additional medical or health benefits beyond their basic nutritional value, encompassing dietary supplements, herbal products, genetically engineered foods, and probiotics, used for disease prevention, treatment, and health promotion. Nutraceuticals have been used not only for nutrition but also as a support therapy for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as to reduce side effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Diverse novel nano formulation approaches tend to overcome challenges involved in formulation development of nutraceuticals. In this review article, the latest key findings (clinical studies) on nutraceuticals that show the therapeutic action of nutraceutical’s bioactive molecules on various diseases have also been discussed

Introduction

Nutraceuticals are specially formulated foods or food components designed to provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, including the prevention and treatment of diseases. The term, coined by Dr. Stephen De Felice in 1989, combines “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical.” While nutraceuticals and dietary or food supplements share similarities, nutraceuticals are distinguished by their scientifically supported claims in disease prevention or management, whereas supplements mainly address nutrient deficiencies. They may include vitamins, minerals, probiotics, functional foods, or herbal products and are intended to reduce or delay the need for pharmaceutical interventions. Proper regulation and evidence-based use are crucial to ensure safety and efficacy.

Nutraceuticals have shown potential benefits in managing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s), cancer, allergies, osteoarthritis, eye disorders, immune dysfunction, and inflammation. For example, in diabetes management, nutraceuticals such as lipoic acid and n-3 fatty acids can aid in treating complications like diabetic neuropathy, though clinical evidence is limited for many herbal supplements.

Conclusion

Nutraceuticals are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Most of the nutraceuticals are from either mineral origin, animal origin or vegetable origin like gamma terpenes, beta carotene, curcumins, limonene, eugenol, pinene, safranal, geraniol, aloine, caryophyllene, lycopene and silymarin. These constituents are prepared into dosage forms as topical, oral, etc. viz. creams, lotions, ointments, emulsions, Unani formulations, aromatic oils, microemulsions, SMEDDS, beads, tablets, Emulgels, herbal formulations etc. used in various categories as antidiabetic, antibiotic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, protective, etc. Nutraceuticals are quickly replacing pharmaceuticals in prevention and management of acute and chronic health problems. Nutraceuticals show an ample scope to flourish in future as therapeutic agents with preventive and curative properties. Although nutraceuticals show a promising approach for the promotion of health and prevention of various diseases, yet health professionals, nutritionists, toxicologists should strategically work in collaboration to explore them for their full potential.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Narayan Gupta, Sujeet Pratap Singh, Pramod Mishra, Tarkeshwar Prasad Shukla. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.