• Bhakti Pagare
• Priti Palkar
• Puja Mule
• Anushka Nadre
• Sana Tahreem Moiez Shaikh

The creation and assessment of a novel nutraceutical formulation utilizing a chocolate-based delivery method that incorporates extracts from Andrographis paniculata and Carica papaya is the main goal of this work. These herbal medications' strong bitterness, which restricts patient tolerance, is their main drawback. To get around this, date syrup, a natural sweetener, was used as a taste-masking agent to improve sensory qualities and offer functional value, while chocolate was used as a palatable transporter. Nine formulations (F1–F9) were created by changing the sweetener and chocolate base composition while keeping the herbal extract concentration constant. The formulations were assessed for stability, physicochemical parameters, and organoleptic properties. Out of all the formulations, F6—which contains date syrup and dark compound chocolate performed the best, exhibiting acceptable sensory qualities, enhanced stability, and total flavour masking. Good structural integrity and shelf stability were indicated by the improved formulation's acceptable physicochemical characteristics, which included the right pH, hardness, melting point, and low moisture content. The study underlines date syrup's function as a natural, nutritionally advantageous taste-masking agent and the efficacy of chocolate as a new drug delivery system (NDDS). All things considered, the created herbal chocolate is a promising functional food and nutraceutical formulation that offers better palatability, increased patient compliance, and possible therapeutic advantages, particularly for younger and older populations.

Medicated Chocolate, Chocolate formulation, Papaya leaf powder, kalmegh powder, Paediatrics.

"SWEET SCIENCE MEETS HERBAL THERAPY: DEVELOPMENT OF DATE SYRUP–BASED CHOCOLATE AS A NOVEL NUTRACEUTICAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR PAPAYA EXTRACT AND KALMEGH EXTRACT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no.d415-d433, September-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609340.pdf

"SWEET SCIENCE MEETS HERBAL THERAPY: DEVELOPMENT OF DATE SYRUP–BASED CHOCOLATE AS A NOVEL NUTRACEUTICAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR PAPAYA EXTRACT AND KALMEGH EXTRACT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no. ppd415-d433, September-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609340.pdf