Curcumin Phytosome: What Is an Example of a Phytosome?

December 17, 2025 •

5 min read

Overcoming the poor absorption of beneficial plant compounds is a key challenge in supplement science. The most prominent example of a phytosome is curcumin phytosome, which dramatically enhances the bioavailability of curcumin, the active component of turmeric, allowing the body to utilize its health benefits much more effectively than standard turmeric extract.

Quick Summary

This article defines what a phytosome is and highlights curcumin phytosome as a prime example. It details how this specialized delivery system works to improve the absorption of herbal compounds by binding them to phospholipids, like phosphatidylcholine, for enhanced effectiveness.

Key Points

Curcumin Phytosome Example: A prime example of a phytosome is curcumin phytosome, which binds curcumin from turmeric to phosphatidylcholine to dramatically enhance its absorption.
Enhanced Bioavailability: Phytosomes are a technological advancement that increases the bioavailability of poorly absorbed plant compounds by creating a lipid-soluble molecular complex.
Molecular Complex: Unlike liposomes that merely encapsulate, phytosomes form a chemical bond between the active plant ingredient and the phospholipid molecule.
Superior Absorption: The lipid-compatible nature of the phytosome complex allows for superior absorption through cell membranes in the gastrointestinal tract.
Versatile Applications: Phytosome technology is applied to various herbal extracts, including milk thistle (silybin), green tea, and grape seed, to improve their efficacy in supplements and topical products.
Increased Stability: The chemical complexation protects the active compound from degradation by digestive enzymes, leading to increased stability and a prolonged half-life in the body.

What is a Phytosome?

A phytosome is a patented, modern drug delivery technology that creates a complex between a natural plant extract (phyto-) and a phospholipid (a '-some' or cell-like structure). The core purpose of creating a phytosome is to overcome the limitations of many potent plant compounds, such as poor water solubility and large molecular size, which often result in poor absorption and low bioavailability when taken orally.

Unlike traditional herbal extracts, which are simply mixtures of plant constituents, a phytosome forms a unique molecular complex. In this process, the water-soluble component of the plant extract (often polyphenols like flavonoids or terpenoids) forms chemical bonds, specifically hydrogen bonds, with the hydrophilic 'head' of a phospholipid, such as phosphatidylcholine. The lipid-soluble 'tail' of the phospholipid then envelops this complex, creating a lipid-compatible molecular structure. This structure makes the active compound much more soluble in fats and oils, dramatically improving its ability to cross the lipid-rich cell membranes in the gut and enter the bloodstream.

Curcumin Phytosome: A Primary Example

Curcumin phytosome is an excellent and widely studied example of a phytosome. Curcumin is the primary active polyphenol extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa) and is known for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, in its natural, unformulated state, curcumin has notoriously low bioavailability. The body struggles to absorb and utilize it effectively, limiting its potential health benefits.

To create curcumin phytosome, a standardized curcumin extract is complexed with phosphatidylcholine, typically derived from soy. This process transforms curcumin into a lipid-compatible complex, enabling it to be readily absorbed through the gut wall. Clinical studies have shown that this formulation can increase curcumin absorption by many times compared to conventional turmeric extracts. The resulting supplement, often marketed under trade names like Meriva®, offers significantly enhanced therapeutic effects at a lower dose than standard preparations.

Other Notable Examples of Phytosomes

Phytosome technology is not limited to curcumin and has been successfully applied to numerous other herbal extracts with promising results. These examples highlight the versatility of the technology for enhancing the bioavailability of various phytoconstituents:

Silybin Phytosome (Siliphos®): Derived from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), silybin is a powerful hepatoprotective flavonoid with low absorption. By complexing silybin with phosphatidylcholine, its bioavailability and liver-protective effects are significantly enhanced over standard milk thistle extract.
Quercetin Phytosome: Quercetin is a flavonoid found in foods like apples and grapes, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Like curcumin, it has poor oral absorption due to its lipophilic nature. Forming a phytosome with quercetin significantly increases its solubility and absorption, leading to greater therapeutic efficacy.
Green Tea Phytosome (Greenselect®): This formulation complexes the powerful antioxidant polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), from green tea extract with phospholipids. This increases the absorption of these catechins, enhancing their antioxidant and weight management benefits.
Grape Seed Phytosome (Leucoselect®): Procyanidins from grape seed extract are potent antioxidants that are poorly absorbed. Creating a phytosome from this extract drastically improves their absorption and overall antioxidant and cardioprotective activity.

Phytosome vs. Liposome: A Comparison

While phytosomes and liposomes are both lipid-based delivery systems, a key structural difference distinguishes them and affects their function. A clear understanding of this distinction is crucial.


Characteristic	Phytosome	Liposome
Mechanism	Active compound forms a molecular complex, often via hydrogen bonds, with the polar head of a phospholipid.	Active compound is encapsulated within the aqueous core or lipid layers without forming a chemical bond.
Structure	The active compound is an integral part of the phospholipid membrane itself.	The active compound is simply trapped or contained within the hollow lipid sphere.
Bonding	Strong chemical (hydrogen) bonding between the plant compound and phospholipid molecule.	No chemical bonding occurs; the drug is passively enclosed.
Cellular Interaction	Improved membrane affinity allows for direct integration with and assimilation through cell membranes.	Relies on less efficient fusion or endocytosis mechanisms to deliver its contents.
Stability	Greater stability and improved retention of the active compound due to chemical bonding.	Susceptible to drug leakage and lower stability over time.
Bioavailability	Significantly enhanced bioavailability, often to a greater degree for poorly absorbed botanicals.	Improved bioavailability, but often less efficient than phytosomes for certain plant compounds.

Benefits and Applications of Phytosomes

The advantages of phytosome technology are far-reaching and continue to drive innovation in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

Enhanced Absorption and Bioavailability This is the most critical benefit. By creating a lipid-compatible complex, phytosomes allow the active plant compound to be efficiently absorbed through the intestinal wall and enter systemic circulation, providing a higher concentration of the beneficial compound where it is needed.

Lower Dosage Requirements Because absorption is so much more efficient with a phytosome formulation, a lower dose of the active ingredient is needed to achieve the same therapeutic effect. This increases safety, reduces the cost of the raw material, and improves patient compliance.

Improved Cellular Delivery The phospholipid component of a phytosome mimics the structure of cell membranes. This allows for superior cellular integration and delivery of the active component directly to the cells, maximizing its biological activity.

Increased Stability and Protection Complexing with phospholipids protects sensitive plant compounds from degradation by digestive enzymes and gut bacteria. This ensures more of the active ingredient reaches its target intact, increasing stability and extending the compound's half-life in the bloodstream.

Versatile Delivery Phytosomes can be formulated into various oral and topical dosage forms, including capsules, tablets, creams, and gels, offering flexibility in product development for different therapeutic uses, such as skincare or dietary supplements. For example, the enhanced skin penetration of phytosomes makes them ideal for cosmeceutical products like anti-aging creams.

Conclusion

As demonstrated by the potent example of curcumin phytosome, this technology represents a significant advancement in delivering herbal medicine more effectively. By forming a stable, bioavailable complex with phospholipids, phytosomes overcome the inherent absorption challenges of many plant-based compounds. This approach unlocks the full therapeutic potential of ingredients like curcumin, silybin, and quercetin, offering consumers more effective, lower-dose, and often better-tolerated supplements. As research continues to expand, phytosome technology is poised to play an increasingly vital role in modern nutraceuticals and targeted drug delivery systems. Learn more about the specific benefits of curcumin phytosome and other herbal compounds by visiting Thorne's ingredient page on Curcumin Phytosome.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference is the bonding. A phytosome forms a molecular complex with a chemical bond between the plant extract and the phospholipid, becoming an integral part of the lipid structure. A liposome, however, simply encapsulates the active ingredient within its hollow core without forming a chemical bond.

Phytosomes increase absorption by complexing water-soluble plant compounds with fat-soluble phospholipids. This creates a lipid-compatible structure that can easily cross the lipid-rich cell membranes of the gut and enter the bloodstream, a process that is often inefficient for the plant compound alone.

Yes, phytosome technology is applied to numerous other herbal extracts. Examples include silybin (from milk thistle), quercetin, green tea extract, and grape seed extract, all of which benefit from enhanced absorption and efficacy through this method.

Yes, research and clinical studies show that phytosome formulations are significantly more effective than standard extracts for many compounds. This is because the enhanced absorption allows the body to receive a higher concentration of the active compound, maximizing its therapeutic potential.

The primary benefits include enhanced bioavailability and absorption, lower required doses for the same effect, superior cellular delivery, increased stability of the active compound, and versatile applications in both oral supplements and topical products.

Phytosomes typically have a good safety profile. The phospholipids used, such as phosphatidylcholine derived from soybeans, are natural and biocompatible, with low toxicity. The process enhances the efficacy of the herbal compound without compromising safety.

Phytosomes are prepared by reacting a standardized plant extract with a phospholipid, such as phosphatidylcholine, in a specific molar ratio within an aprotic solvent like dioxane or methylene chloride. The solvent is then removed, and the resulting complex is dried into a powder.