What is Phytosome Good For? Enhanced Bioavailability of Herbal Extracts

December 18, 2025 •

3 min read

Despite a long history of use, many plant compounds suffer from poor absorption and low bioavailability due to their complex molecular structure. This is precisely what phytosome technology is good for, as it significantly enhances the body's ability to utilize powerful herbal extracts like curcumin and silymarin by binding them to phospholipids.

Quick Summary

Phytosome technology improves the absorption of plant-based compounds by binding them to phospholipids, increasing bioavailability and therapeutic effects for herbs such as curcumin, milk thistle, and ginkgo biloba.

Key Points

Enhanced Bioavailability: Phytosomes significantly improve the body's absorption and utilization of poorly soluble herbal extracts like curcumin and silymarin by binding them to phospholipids.
Improved Efficacy: By enhancing absorption, phytosomes produce a stronger therapeutic effect with a lower dosage compared to traditional herbal extracts.
Better Stability: The phospholipid complex protects active plant compounds from degradation by digestive enzymes and gut bacteria, ensuring more of the ingredient reaches its target.
Specific Applications: Phytosome technology is used for targeted health benefits, such as liver protection with silymarin, cardiovascular health with quercetin, and anti-inflammatory support with curcumin.
Versatile Delivery: In addition to oral supplements, phytosomes are highly effective for topical applications in skincare, delivering powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents directly to the skin.
Patented Technology: The phytosome process is a patented technology developed to create stable, bioavailable lipid-compatible molecular complexes from plant extracts.

Understanding the Phytosome Advantage

Phytosomes offer a modern way to deliver herbal medicine, addressing the common problem of poor absorption of plant extracts. A phytosome is a complex formed by binding standardized plant extracts to a natural phospholipid, usually phosphatidylcholine. This bond helps compounds like flavonoids and polyphenols, which can be difficult for the body to absorb, to cross cell membranes more easily. The result is better absorption and increased bioavailability compared to regular herbal extracts.

How Phytosome Technology Works

Phytosome technology is a patented process that creates a lipid-compatible complex. A plant extract is combined with a phospholipid, forming a chemical bond. The phospholipid then surrounds this bond, creating a small, cell-like structure. This structure provides several benefits:

Enhanced Lipid Solubility: The complex can easily pass through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream.
Improved Stability: The phospholipid protects the plant extract from being broken down by digestion.
Better Absorption: The complex can merge with cell membranes, helping deliver the active compound directly to cells.

Specific Herbal Extracts and Their Phytosomal Benefits

Phytosome technology improves the effectiveness of various herbal supplements, as shown in clinical studies.

1. Curcumin Phytosome (Turmeric)

Curcumin, from turmeric, is poorly absorbed, but phytosome formulation significantly boosts its bioavailability. Studies have shown improvements in inflammatory markers and antioxidant status, and potential neuroprotective effects.

2. Silymarin Phytosome (Milk Thistle)

Silymarin, from milk thistle, is used for liver support. Its phytosomal form, SILIPHOS®, shows improved efficacy. Research indicates higher bioavailability and superior liver protection compared to standard silymarin, with a longer duration of action.

3. Quercetin Phytosome

Quercetin is a flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its absorption is limited. Quercetin phytosome has been shown to reduce uric acid and triglycerides and possesses anti-inflammatory effects.

4. Green Tea Phytosome

Green tea extract, containing EGCG, benefits from enhanced absorption via phytosome technology. This provides improved systemic antioxidant benefits, including for skin health.

Phytosome vs. Conventional Extract vs. Liposome

Here’s how phytosomes compare to other delivery methods:


Feature	Conventional Herbal Extract	Liposome	Phytosome
Molecular Binding	No complexation.	Compound encapsulated; no chemical bond.	Compound forms a chemical bond with phospholipid.
Bioavailability	Low.	Variable; can be poor orally.	High.
Stability	Susceptible to degradation.	Can be unstable.	High.
Effectiveness	Lower effectiveness.	Variable for oral intake.	Higher; often requires lower dosage.

Beyond Supplements: Cosmetic and Topical Applications

Phytosome technology is also effective for topical use in cosmetics. It improves skin absorption of plant extracts, allowing for higher concentrations of active ingredients to reach the skin. This can enhance hydration, reduce inflammation, and provide antioxidant protection.

Conclusion

Phytosomes are valuable for overcoming the poor absorption and low bioavailability of many herbal extracts. By forming a stable complex with phospholipids, this technology improves the delivery of compounds like curcumin, silymarin, quercetin, and green tea extract. This results in greater effectiveness, often with smaller doses, and increased stability of the active ingredients. Phytosome technology represents a significant step in using the health benefits of plants more effectively in both supplements and topical products. For those seeking maximum benefits from plant-based therapies, phytosomes offer a scientifically supported option.

For more detailed information on specific phytosome formulations and their effects, scientific reviews published in academic journals are an excellent resource, such as those found on the National Institutes of Health website(https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11439478/).

Frequently Asked Questions

A phytosome is a patented molecular complex where a natural plant extract, like a flavonoid, is chemically bound to a natural phospholipid, such as phosphatidylcholine. This process creates a lipid-soluble structure that can be more effectively absorbed by the body.

By binding to a phospholipid, the active plant compound is made more compatible with the lipid-rich environment of the body's cell membranes. This allows the compound to cross the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream more easily, dramatically increasing its bioavailability compared to a standard extract.

The main difference is the binding mechanism. In a phytosome, the active compound forms a stable chemical bond with the phospholipid. In a liposome, the compound is merely encapsulated within a phospholipid bilayer without a strong chemical bond, which can lead to instability and poor oral bioavailability.

Many popular herbal extracts have been formulated as phytosomes, including curcumin from turmeric, silymarin from milk thistle, quercetin, green tea extract, grape seed extract, and ginkgo biloba.

Yes, when used as directed, phytosome products are generally considered safe. The phospholipids used are natural, and the technology is designed to enhance the efficacy of plant-based compounds, many of which have low toxicity profiles. As with any supplement, consulting a healthcare provider is recommended.

Yes, phytosomes can significantly enhance the topical absorption of active compounds into the skin. This makes them useful in cosmetics and skincare products designed to deliver potent antioxidants or anti-inflammatory agents directly to the skin.

Because of their superior absorption and bioavailability, phytosome formulations often require a lower dosage of the active compound to achieve the same or a greater therapeutic effect compared to an unformulated extract.