Guar gum: A Potential Natural Hydrophilic Polymer
About Authors:
Pankaj S. Waghere1*, Malpani Amol2,
1Prin. K. M. Kundnani College of Pharmacy, Mumbai. Maharashtra, India.
2Roland Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Berhampur. Orissa, India.
*waghere.pankaj@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Hydrocolloids are naturally-occurring plant polysaccharide, in that gaur gum is most useful and validated natural plant polysaccharide. Guar gum and their derivatives are widely used in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Many are used as biodegradable polymeric materials to deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients. Natural polymers can be modified to obtain tailor-made materials for drug delivery systems and to compete with the synthetic biodegradable excipients available in the market. Natural polymers as a drug carrier material are of two types: polysaccharides and proteins. They found both in plants and animals providing several advantages over synthetic polymers.Gaur gums are preferred to those of synthetic origin due to their green, cost-effectiveness, nontoxic, easy availability and for suitable binder in tablet manufacture. The aim of this review is to provide an insight into the many potential applications of gaur gum as pharmaceutical natural excipients.