Polygal’s multifunctional and natural hydrocolloids for the pharmaceutical industry

Polygum and Polygel for pharmaceutical applications are excellent carriers for active ingredients, thickeners in juices and ointments, as well as gelling agents in creams and other skin applications. In addition guar can be used as a tablet disintegrant, coating agent, taste masking agent, swallowing aid and for controlled release of active ingredients.

Polygal Market Pharma
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POLYGAL Pharma APPLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS

Pharma Market

Components used in pharmaceutical formulations must meet the high requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. We attach great importance to compliance with the so-called GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines. For this reason, the end products are produced according to high food standard and analysed in an external GMP-certified laboratory according to the internationally recognised pharmacopoeias Ph. Eur. and USP-NF.

 

With many years of experience in processing guar, we are an expert. As a committed company, Polygal actively contributed to the revision of the US Pharmacopoeia in 2013 with its in-depth knowledge.

Our products for pharmaceutical applications consist of natural hydrocolloids such as guar gum, gum tragacanth, gum karaya and gum arabic. These are processed in our own production facilities in Switzerland and Spain according to the food standard (FSSC2000 and IFS/ISO 9001: 2015). The production facilities are subject to regular inspection by the authorities and a large number of customer audits. This constant exchange with highly estimated counterparts allows us to maintain high standards both in terms of our quality management systems and facilities. Our products are tested according to the methods of the pharmacopoeia or manufactured according to customer requirements and are used in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries as excipients or food supplements.

Guar is used, for example, as a tablet disintegrant. Guar’s swelling retardation property allows controlled release of active ingredient. In addition, guar gum as a coating agent for tablets can mask unpleasant tastes and odours or make the tablets easier to swallow. In suspensions and emulsions, guar has a stabilising effect, increases viscosity and acts as a gelling agent. Moreover, it can contribute to the content of natural dietary fibre. We offer our natural guar gums in various pharmaceutical qualities. Finally, Guar can be used for blood sugar control. In hydrogels and patches, it serves to control the release of the drug. It is also used as a thickener and stabiliser in gels, creams and pastes for local application.

Main Component: Guar gum
Main Component: Guar gum
Main Component: Guar gum
Main Component: Guar gum
Main Component: Guar gum

As an emulsifier, binding, thickening, suspending and gelling agent, a creamy and homogeneous texture in pastes and creams can be achieved by adding gum tragacanth. In combination with glycerine, it makes an ideal binding and swelling agent for tablets. By increasing viscosity in the aqueous phase and reducing surface tensions, gum tragacanth is the ideal adjuvant in water-oil systems. The versatile functional properties and long shelf life have made tragacanth an important excipient in the pharmaceutical industry for generations.

Main Component: Gum tragacanth
Main Component: Gum tragacanth

Gum arabic is used as an emulsifier in many medicinal juices. Secondly, it is often used as a base for reduced-sugar juices. Gum arabic is also used as a demulcent and laxative. Due to its high solubility in water and a practically neutral taste, the emulsifying and stabilising properties of gum arabic can be used across a wide range of products as a gelling agent. In addition to stabilising oil-in-water emulsions, gum arabic is excellent as a suspending agent for insoluble medicines and can prevent the precipitation of some suspended particles.

Main Component: Gum acacia senegal
Main Component: Gum acacia senegal

Gum karaya is used in particular in the pharmaceutical industry for dental adhesives and for sealing artificial bowel outlets or post-surgical drains. In addition, gum karaya is used as a laxative and as a thickener and binder. The hygroscopic effect helps to regulate moisture in a wide variety of applications. Gum karaya (Sterculia) is truly unique in that it can form extremely strong pressure sensitive adhesives with small amounts of water.