Abstract

Superdisintegrants play a pivotal role in pharmaceutical formulations, especially in orally disintegrating dosage forms, facilitating rapid disintegration and dissolution of tablets or capsules thereby enhancing drug delivery and bioavailability. Traditional synthetic superdisintegrants have been widely utilized in pharmaceutical formulations; however, there is an increasing trend towards exploring natural alternatives. Natural super disintegrants, such as starch from various sources, Plantago ovata (psyllium husk), guar gum, locust bean gum, gellan gum, and xanthan gum, offer several advantages, including biodegradability, compatibility with biological systems, and sustainable production processes. This review aims to shedding light on the characteristics and performance of natural superdisintegrants compared to synthetic counterparts, which highlights the biodegradability of natural materials, their compatibility with biological systems, and the sustainable sourcing and production processes involved. This review article explores the potential of natural superdisintegrants in improving pharmaceutical performance while minimizing environmental impact. By harnessing the unique properties of plant-based materials such as psyllium husk, guar gum, locust bean gum, gellan gum, and xanthan gum, significant advancements have been achieved in the formulation of solid dosage forms. Furthermore, the potential challenges and future prospects of incorporating natural superdisintegrants into pharmaceutical formulations are discussed. Overall, this review underscores the importance of embracing green alternatives in drug delivery and emphasizes the pivotal role of natural superdisintegrants in achieving enhanced pharmaceutical performance with environmental sustainability. This review emphasizes the critical role of natural super disintegrants in achieving enhanced pharmaceutical performance with environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Superdisintegrants, Natural alternatives, Synthetic superdisintegrants, Drug delivery, Biodegradability, Biocompatibility, Sustainability, Eco-friendly