OKRA GUM IN FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT: PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22376/ijlpr.v16i1.2026Keywords:
Okra Gum, Abelmoschus esculentus, Natural Polymer, Pharmaceutical excipient, Drug DeliveryAbstract
Our aim is to study the properties and applications of okra gum in formulation development. Okra gum is obtained from okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus), a member of the Malvaceae family which is widely used as both a food ingredient and a traditional remedy. It is a natural polymer which has gained significant attention as a multifunctional pharmaceutical excipient. Its mucilage is rich in natural polysaccharides mainly composed of galactose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid, along with proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Different extraction methods produced okra polysaccharides are varied with molecular weights and chain structures, leads to unique rheological behaviors. This indicates that adjusting extraction methods allows the regulation of polysaccharide interactions to obtain desired functional properties. Water-extractable okra polysaccharides show high galacturonic acid content and concentration-dependent molecular and rheological behavior. Purified fractions exhibit higher viscosity and shear-thinning, elastic characteristics at higher concentrations, while behaving more viscously at lower levels. These properties highlight their strong potential as natural thickening agents in food applications. Physicochemical properties such as swelling ability, viscosity-building capacity, film-forming behavior, and biocompatibility make it a promising alternative to synthetic polymers. Okra mucilage exhibits several biological activities, including anti diabetic, anticancer, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial effects. Recent research also studied its potential in nanotechnology-based delivery systems and as a green, sustainable excipient in modern drug delivery. Overall, okra gum represents as a versatile, eco-friendly material in pharmaceutical science. This review highlights the extraction methods, and important functional applications of okra gum in formulation development, including its roles as a binder, disintegrant, suspending agent, and controlled-release modifier.
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