ISSN: 0975 -8542 Journal of Global Pharma Technology Available Online at www.jgpt.co.in REVIEW ARTICLE ©2009-2018, JGPT. All Rights Reserved 1 Natural Bio-Enhancers: Scope for Newer Combinations- A Short Review Nabarun Mukhopadhyay 1 , Saleemulla Khan 2 *, Aswatha Ram HN 1 1. Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal -576104, Karnataka, India. 2. P.A. College of Pharmacy, Nadupadev, Montepadav Post, Kalrangala, Mangalore- 574153, Karnataka, India. * Corresponding Author: Email: saleemulla.khan@gmail.com Abstract Bio-enhancers are those chemical entities which promote absorption and augment the bioavailability of accompanyingdrugs and do not exhibit synergy. Natural bio-enhancers are the agents which are obtained naturally and can be used to promote and augment bioavailability of the poorly absorbed drugs, which are administered for long periods, expensive and exert toxic reactions. This approach of using natural bio-enhancer improves the bioavailability, efficacy, thereby reduces the dose and therefore, cost, toxicity and adverse effects. A number of medicinal plants have shown this property of enhancing bioavailability of other drugs. This review work was carried out by thorough searching of different research articles from different online journals from Pubmed, Google scholar, Science direct. We also searched the theories related to the topic from different books obtained from Manipal Health Sciences Library. In this review we have collected literature of scientifically validated plants having bio-enhancing property. It also describes the scopes of using newer combinations of natural and synthetic productsalongside natural bio- enhancers such as piperine, ginger, and aloes to name a few.For instance, the combination of curcumin with piperine enhances the bioavailability of the former, similarly, bioavailability of paclitaxel, a cytotoxic drug canbe improved by using quercetin combination. Thebio-enhancing effect of trikatu (a traditional Ayurvedic preparation) on cefquinome and tolfenamic acid has also been documented. Keywords: Natural bio-enhancers, Scopes, Need, Newer combinations. Introduction Natural bio-enhancers are the agents which are obtained naturally and can be used to promote/ augment bioavailability of the poorly absorbed drugs. This approach improves bioavailability, efficacy, thereby reduces the dose and therefore cost, toxicity and adverse effects [1]. Maximum bioavailability is attained by drugs administered by intravenous route. Whereas, many of the orally administered drugs are poorly absorbed and show lower bioavailability [2]. Such unutilized drugs in the body may lead to least biological activity. Thus, there is need for molecules which themselves have no same therapeutic activity but when administered in combination with other drugs/molecules enhance their bioavailability. Natural compounds have shown this bio-enhancement property when co-administered with poorly absorbed drug(s). The concept of bio-enhancement is quite antique.In Ayurveda, a bio-enhancer is called as “Yogvahi” [3]. Some ideal characteristics of a good bio- enhancer are as follows [4];  It should be nontoxic, non-allergenic and non-irritating,  Should not produce own pharmacological effects?  Should be rapid-acting with predictable and reproducible activity,  Should be compatible with other active pharmaceutical ingredients,  Should be easily formulated into a various dosage form. The mechanisms of action of natural bio- enhancers are [5];