Title:Chemistry, Isolation, and Pharmaceutical Applications of Inulin
Volume: 19
Author(s): Pankaj Dangre*, Kunal Kotkar, Awadhut Pimple and Satish Meshram
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Datta Meghe College of Pharmacy, DMIMS (DU), Wardha, India
Keywords:
Inulin, prebiotics, drug targeting, food science, drug delivery, biomedical engineering.
Abstract: Inulin (IN) is a prebiotic oligosaccharide reported in diverse sources of nature. The major
sources encompass chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, barley, garlic, rye, and wheat. The literature
also reported its promising biological activities, e.g., antidiabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, immuneregulator
and prebiotic for improving intestinal function, regulation of blood lipids, and so on. IN’s
molecular flexibility, stabilization, and drug-targeting potential make it a unique polymer in pharmaceutical
sciences and biomedical engineering. Further, its nutritional value and diagnostic application
also widen its scope in food and medical sciences. The hydroxyl groups present in its structure offer
chemical modifications, which could benefit advanced drug delivery such as controlled and sustained
drug delivery, enhancement of bioavailability, cellular uptake, etc. This work reviews the isolation
and purification of IN. The study also provides glimpses of the chemistry, chemical modification, and
applications in pharmaceutical sciences and drug delivery.
