RECENT APPROACHES AND PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS OF NATURAL POLYSACCHARIDES: A REVIEW

Polysaccharides obtained from gums and mucilages are extensively used natural materials for conventional and novel dosage forms. Many natural gums are studied for use in novel drug delivery systems out of which polysaccharides, resins and tannins are most extensively studied and used. Because of advances in drug delivery technology, natural polysaccharides are included in novel drug delivery to fulfil multitask functions and in some cases directly or indirectly control the extent or rate of drug release. Regular research is going on in the field of use of naturally occurring biocompatible polymeric material in designing of dosage forms for oral controlled release administration. The natural polysaccharides improve the national economy by providing inexpensive formulations to people, by using locally available materials. The present review covers almost all the areas of interest of some very important naturally based polysaccharides, natural gums and mucilages with their sources, chemical constituents, chemical structures, isolation, purification, standardization and characterization along with their uses in various pharmaceutical formulations.