They say necessity is the mother of invention and this seems to be true in the world of medicine. Numerous drugs are being created each day to treat a myriad of diseases affecting both humans and livestock.
Uses of medicated chewing gums
The use of MCG has existed from time memorial. The Mayan Indians used to chew tree resins from sapodilla trees to get fresh breath and clean their teeth. During the World War II, synthetic gums were developed for the army to act as supplements, clean teeth and deriver other drugs in areas with no clean water. In addition, MCG have been passed by the European pharmacopoeia.
What are Medicated chewing gums?
Everyone enjoys chewing a tasty and pleasant gum. In this case the drug is mixed with the gum and when chewed the drug is slowly released, mixes with saliva and is finally absorbed. MDG comprise of a mixture of water soluble elastomers, bulking agents such as guar gum hydrolysates, softening agents such as glycerin and fatty acids, sweeteners such as dextrose or sugars, flavoring agents, coloring agents, texturizers, antioxidants and coloring agents.
Uses and advantages of MCG
The chewing action releases the drug into the saliva. First the agent are swallowed and absorbed in the stomach and intestine in a process that require metabolism by the liver. Secondly, the drug may be absorbed by the moist membrane in the mouth directly into the bloodstream. The second process avoids metabolism and is faster and more effective.
Drugs administered through MCG include nicotine to reduce smoking urge, fluoride to prevent caries, chlorohexidine to prevent bacteria and caries, caffeine stimulant, Dimenhydrinate to prevent morning sickness and aspirin. They are also used as mouthwash and relapce conventional toothpaste. Lastly, they are used in numerous food supplements to increase calcium, vitamins and minerals in the body.
The merits of MCG include: the method is non-invasive, requires no water, can be used in remote areas, few side effects, can be used by patients with difficulty swallowing, prevents dry mouth, the drug can be absorbed by buccal cavity directly to the blood stream, they are good for children, the drug is released slowly as one chews preventing metabolism stress and prevent high drug concentration in stomach,
The role of Guar gum in MCG
The role of guar gum is critical to the effective operation of the therapeutic chewing gums. Guar is a galactomannan coming from guar (cyamopsistetragonolobus) which has the highest viscosity of all natural materials. However, due to its high hydration rates and viscosity, it is susceptible to microbial attacks and has to be modified to suit pharmaceutical applications.
First, Guar Gum Hydrolysate increases the water absorption rate of the chewing gum allowing more water to be drawn from the saliva. This effectively mixes the drug with water. In addition, it stimulates the mouth to produce more saliva to dissolve the medicine effectively.
Secondly, guar hydrolysate acts as a binding agent for the active chemicals in the MCG. This material holds the substance together and disintegrates in the mouth.
Thirdly, guar Hydrolysate results to controlled release of the drug into the oral cavity and subsequently to the oral mucosa membranes. Controlled release is imperative in ensuring that the drug is effectively absorbed into the body stream. Lastly, guar Hydrolysate increases calcium absorption in the large intestine suppressed by gastric acid or by certain drugs.
This article has been posted by Biren Patel working at Agro Gums. Agro Gums is a guar and cassia gum manufacturing company offering high quality guar gum powder, fast hydration guar gum powder, cassia powder, guar splits and guar meal to satisfy the production requirements of various industries across the world.
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