eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 0973-1245 2026-03-30 23 1 77 96 10.13005/bbra/3482 58137 article Anisha Manik Bagade 1 Mujahid Shafik Patel 1 Vasimkhan TaslimKhan Pathan 1 Nilesh Ashok Karande 2 Atul Rupchand Bendale 3 Anil Govindrao Jadhav 4 Department of Pharmaceutics, Mahavir Institute of Pharmacy Nashik, (MH), India. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Borgaon Meghe, (MH), India. Department of pharmaceutical chemistry, Mahavir Institute of Pharmacy Nashik, India. Department of Pharmacognosy, Mahavir Institute of Pharmacy Nashik, India. The rising incidence of bone fractures and the pharmacological limitations of systemic treatments underscore the need for targeted local therapies. This review critically evaluates leaves of Barleria cristata L.—a plant with documented ethnomedicinal use in trauma care—for its topical potential in supporting fracture repair. We synthesize traditional knowledge, phytochemical data, and preclinical evidence to assess its bioactive constituents (e.g., iridoids, flavonoids) for transdermal delivery and their supportive roles in inflammation modulation, angiogenesis, and bone-repair processes. A focused comparison of vesicular carriers—liposomes, ethosomes, and niosomes—examines their structural properties, skin penetration profiles, and stability for delivering B. cristata’s phytocomplex. Preclinical studies suggest that topical formulations may enhance healing, as observed through improved radiological, histological, and biomechanical parameters in animal models. Advanced delivery systems, particularly ethosomes and bioadhesive hydrogels, appear promising for increasing skin permeation and local retention. The convergence of traditional application and modern scientific evaluation identifies B. cristata as a strong candidate for further investigation. Translating this potential requires future research focused on extract standardization, formulation optimization, and controlled clinical studies to rigorously assess its safety and supportive role in bone fracture management. https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol23no1/a-comparative-review-on-the-topical-bioactive-phytochemicals-in-barleria-cristata-and-their-potential-in-fracture-healing-bridging-ethnobotanical-knowledge-and-modern-bone-tissue-engineering/ Barleria cristata leaves; Bone Tissue Engineering; Ethnopharmacology; Fracture Healing; Phytochemicals; Topical Delivery