Background: The main idea behind a sustain-release system is to enhance the effectiveness of the medicine while minimizing side effects. Sustain-release preparations are designed to release medication at a predetermined time rate, minimizing side effects and maintaining a steady concentration over a specified period of time. To achieve the sustained effect, techniques such as polymer swelling, water penetration, drug dissolution and diffusion have been employed to facilitate drug release through a matrix system. Compared to traditional release formulations, advancements in formulation technology, including sustained release systems, have been widely accepted. Naturally occurring plant-based gums can be used for sustained release formulations due to their excellent binding properties.
Methods: Articles were retrieved from Science-Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed and other online sources. Important keywords like “gums,’’ “binders”, and “sustained release’’ were used to examine important literature relevant to the study from these databases.
Results: The results provide a concise overview of different formulation strategies for enhancing sustained delivery systems, along with the required materials, their corresponding applications, and the plant families they belong to.
Conclusions: An insight into some natural gums used as binders in sustained release preparation has been revealed, highlighting their importance in reducing the frequency of administration and improving patient compliance. However, the utilization of indigenous materials in formulations can help lower the market value of the pharmaceutical product.