Abstract

PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL AND NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY APPROACHES OF AVENA SATIVA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

*Mrunal Sonawale, Pallavi Hake, Prof. Dr. Shashikant N. Dhole

Abstract

Avena sativa (oat) is a widely cultivated cereal crop that has attracted increasing scientific interest due to its remarkable nutritional value and diverse pharmacological properties. Beyond its traditional role as a staple food, oats are now recognized as a rich source of bioactive compounds such as β-glucan, avenanthramides, flavonoids, sterols, phenolic acids, and saponins, which collectively contribute to multiple health-promoting effects. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the phytochemical composition, pharmacological activities, and recent advances in novel drug delivery approaches related to Avena sativa. Extensive literature indicates that oat-derived constituents exhibit significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antiatherogenic, immunomodulatory, and dermatological activities. Among these, avenanthramides represent unique phenolic compounds specific to oats and are largely responsible for their potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathways. In recent years, considerable attention has been directed toward the development of innovative delivery systems, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanoemulsions, and topical formulations, to enhance the stability, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy of oat bioactives. The integration of Avena sativa constituents into novel drug delivery platforms highlights their potential application in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical products. Overall, this review emphasizes the therapeutic relevance of oats and supports their future development as a promising natural source for functional ingredients and drug delivery systems, while also underlining the need for further in vivo and clinical investigations to validate their clinical efficacy and safety.

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