Pharmaceutical Applications of Pectin

Abstract

Pectin, a natural ionic polysaccharide found in the cell wall of terrestrial plants undergoes chain–chain association to form hydrogels upon addition of divalent cations. Based on its degree of esterification, pectin has been classified into two main types. The high methoxyl pectin with a degree of esterification greater than 50%, which is mainly used for its thickening and gelling properties and the low methoxyl pectin, which is widely used for its low sugar-content in jams, both applications being in the food industry. Pectin is mostly derived from citrus fruit peels, but can also be found in other plants such as waterleaf leaves, cocoa husk, and potato pulps. Pectin has been used as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations for various functions. This chapter will focus on the various applications to which pectin has been used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Exploring the potential of mosambi peel and sago powder in developing edible spoons

“…Since pectin is a hydrophilic polymer, it absorbs more water. 38 So, the results show that C1 was more durable than C2. A significant difference ( P < 0.05) was found in the water absorption test of all the samples.…”

Assessing variation inCitrus limon‘Assam lemon’: morphological, seed availability pattern, and biochemical diversity across different districts of Assam

“…High-methoxy pectin is known for its sensitivity to acid conditions and typically requires a substantial amount of sugar to function as a thickening and gelling agent (Akin- Ajani and Okunlola 2021). On the other hand, low-methoxy pectin has gained prominence in the food industry, particularly for jam production, as it can form a gel with less reliance on sugar (Akin-Ajani and Okunlola 2021). To ensure the purity of the extracted pectin, we also evaluated the anhydrounic acid content in both the peel and pulp of Assam lemon samples (Khamsucharit et al 2017).…”

Diversity of Rationally Modified Polysaccharides for Pharmaceutical Applications

“…Modified starch has been investigated as a potential drug delivery vehicle due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability and as a matrix for controlled release of drugs and therapeutic agents [14] . Due to the increased viscosity and solubility, pectin stands alone in various pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications [15] . Acetalated dextran has shown promising potential for various therapeutic applications, such as wound healing, pH responsive drug delivery, and scaffolds [16] …”