EXPLORATION OF BANANA STARCH AS A SUSTAINABLE NATURAL EXCIPIENT IN PHARMACEUTICAL GEL PREPARATION

There is an increasing demand for natural, biodegradable and cost- effective excipients among people and companies which have encouraged the exploration of plant- based polymers in pharmaceutical formulations. Banana starch, obtained from unripe Musa species, possesses desirable physicochemical properties such as good swelling capacity, film- forming, biocompatibility, making it a promising pharmaceutical excipient. The present review looks at the formulation and development of medicinal gel using banana starch. Banana starch was isolated, purified and the parameters like pH, viscosity, swelling index, and gelatinization behavior was checked. Different concentrations of banana starch were taken to prepare gels and these gels were checked for clarity, homogeneity, pH, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, drug content uniformity and ex-vivo drug release. The results show that the gels have properties and do not go bad easily. It showed acceptable physicochemical properties and good stability under short- term studies. Drug release studies indicated a controlled release pattern dependent on how much starch is present in the gel, due to matrix formation. The study suggests that banana starch can be used of man-made materials to make medicine gels. Banana starch is good for the environment, not poisonous and easy to get. This makes it suitable for use, in medicine delivery systems like gels you put on your skin. The banana starch gel can be a way to deliver medicine through the skin. It has potential to be used for making types of medicine gels.