Author: Vilas Asaram Arsul, Swaroop R Lahoti
Proper design and formulation of a dosage form requires consideration of the physical, chemical and biologic characteristics of the drug substances and pharmaceutical ingredients to be used in fabricating the product, excipients facilitate the formulation design and perform a wide range of functions to obtain desired properties for the finished drug product. Polysaccharide hydrocolloids including mucilages, gums and glucans are abundant in nature and commonly found in many higher plants, polysaccharide hydrocolloids including mucilages, gums and glucans are abundant in nature and commonly found in many higher plants. These polysaccharides constitute a structurally diverse class of biological macromolecules with a broad range of physicochemical properties which are widely used for various applications in pharmacy and medicine. Polysaccharide (Gums and mucilages) functions as versatile excipients such as Suspending Agent, Emulsifying Agent, Binder, Gelling Agent, Disintegrant etc. for pharmaceutical formulations. The polysaccharides can also be modified in different ways to obtain tailor-made materials for drug delivery systems and thus can compete with the available synthetic excipients, Excipients are the additives used to convert active pharmaceutical ingredients into pharmaceutical dosage, Excipients were defined as the substance used as a medium for giving a medicament, that is to say with simply the functions of an inert support of the active principle or principles, development of the newer excipients, Polysaccharide in Plant Parts, Polysaccharide hydrocolloids including mucilages, gums and glucans are abundant in nature and commonly found in many higher plants. These polysaccharides constitute a structurally diverse class of biological macromolecules with a broad range of physicochemical properties which are widely used for various applications in pharmacy and medicine, Sustained release, Suspending agent, emulsifying agent, gelling agent in suppositories, surgical lubricant, laxative, Gelling agent, sustained release agent, controlled release tablet, stabilizer in emulsions and suspensions, demulcent and laxative, tablet binder, sustaining agent, emollient, Binder, disintegrant, thickening agent, emulsifier, sustained release agent, Cathartic, lubricant, dental adhesive, sustaining agent in tablets, disintegrating agent in tablets, stabilizer in toothpaste and ointment
