General Description
Synonyms: Citrus pectin; E440; Genu; methopectin; methyl pectin; methyl pectinate; mexpectin; pectina; pectinic acid.
Description: Pectin occurs as a coarse or fine, yellowish-white, odorless powder that has a mucilaginous taste.
Chemical Name: Pectin
Uses
Pectin has been used as an adsorbent and bulk-forming agent, and is present in multi-ingredient preparations for the management of diarrhea, constipation, and obesity; it has also been used as an emulsion stabilizer.
Experimentally, pectin has been used in gel formulations for the oral sustained delivery of ambroxol.
Pectin gel beads have been shown to be an effective medium for controlling the release of a drug within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
It has also been used in a colon-biodegradable pectin matrix with a pH-sensitive polymeric coating, which retards the onset of drug release, overcoming the problems of pectin solubility in the upper GI tract.
Amidated pectin matrix patches have been investigated for the transdermal delivery of chloroquine, and gelling pectin formulations for the oral sustained delivery of paracetamol have been investigated in situ.
Pectin-based matrices with varying degrees of esterification have been evaluated as oral controlled-release tablets.
Lowmethoxy pectins were shown to have a release rate more sensitive to the calcium content of the formulation.
Pectins have been used as a component in the preparation of mixed polymer microsphere systems with the intention of producing controlled drug release.
Safety
Pectin is used in oral pharmaceutical formulations and food products, and is generally regarded as an essentially nontoxic and nonirritant material. Low toxicity by the subcutaneous route has been reported.
Handling Precautions
Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. When pectin is heated to decomposition, acrid smoke and irritating fumes are emitted.