Critical Processes for Stability Enhancement of Phyto-ingredients: A Comprehensive Review

Plants contain valuable phytochemicals with biological activity. However, factors such as instability, poor solubility, and bioavailability limit their use in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. In this context, a wide variety of strategies have been developed with the objective of improving the stability of herbal sources and bioactive compounds under processing, storage, or gastrointestinal digestion conditions. Moreover, these strategies seek to enhance solubility, mask undesirable flavors, and facilitate targeted delivery to specific tissues, thereby enabling the bioactive compounds to exert their biological activity and contribute to improved human health. It is of great importance to conduct studies on the stability of herbal medicines to identify the various factors, physical, chemical, and environmental, which may affect their stability. Also, such studies are essential for determining the shelf life of the products and always ensuring their quality during storage and use. This review presents the strategies and latest advances utilized to improve the stability of pure plant bioactive compounds, extracts, and essential oils to overcome the previously mentioned challenges. The information presented will assist in the production of safe, stable, and effective substances and products. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of the various applications of these compounds is provided, along with an analysis of emerging trends.