Locust bean gum: A versatile biopolymer

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 94; no. 2; pp. 814 - 821
• Main Authors: Prajapati, Vipul D., Jani, Girish K., Moradiya, Naresh G., Randeria, Narayan P., Nagar, Bhanu J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.05.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Carob bean gum; Exact sciences and technology; Galactomanans; General pharmacology; Locust bean gum; Medical sciences; Natural polymers; Pharmaceutical applications; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polysaccharides; Starch and polysaccharides; Galactomanans; Pharmaceutical applications; Locust bean gum; Polysaccharides; Carob bean gum; Control release polymer; Carob gum; Drug carrier; Chemical isolation; Review; Oside polymer; Medical application; Physicochemical properties
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.01.086

► Physicochemical properties, composition, processing and manufacturing aspect of locust bean gum are described briefly. ► Locust bean gum's versatile utility is described briefly through reported articles. ► Its use in combination with other biopolymers in description is focused. ► Its modified form's application in different drug delivery systems is also covered. ► Few biotechnological application of locust bean gum is also noted. Biopolymers or natural polymers are an attractive class of biodegradable polymers since they are derived from natural sources, easily available, relatively cheap and can be modified by suitable reagent. Locust bean gum is one of them that have a wide potentiality in drug formulations due to its extensive application as food additive and its recognized lack of toxicity. It can be tailored to suit its demands of applicants in both the pharmaceutical and biomedical areas. Locust bean gum has a wide application either in the field of novel drug delivery system as rate controlling excipients or in tissue engineering as scaffold formation. Through keen references of reported literature on locust bean gum, in this review, we have described critical aspects of locust bean gum, its manufacturing process, physicochemical properties and applications in various drug delivery systems.