BACKGROUND: Pectin is a heteropolysaccharide used in pharmaceutical formulations as a binding agent. Importation of pectin costs billions of Philippine pesos, but the local laboratory-scale production of this excipient from fruit peel wastes is estimated to be cheaper by 80%.

OBJECTIVE: To address economic and environment concerns associated with pectin production, this study aimed to optimize the isolation and purification of pharmaceutical grade pectin from pomelo (Citrus maxima Merr.) fruit peel as basis for commercial-scale production.

METHODS: Pectin was extracted from pomelo using different solvents: 6.2% w/w citric acid, 1N acetic acid, 3N hydrochloric acid, 3N nitric acid, and 3N sulfuric acid. Temperatures for extracting pectin were explored at 40°C, 60°C, and 90°C. Obtained pectin samples were characterized based on the following parameters: equivalent weight (EW), methoxyl content (MC), ash content (AC), anhydrouronic acid content (AUA), and degree of esterification (DE).

RESULTS: Highest pectin yield (9.25%) was obtained using 3N nitric acid and 3N sulfuric acid at 90°C.Based from the pharmacopeial standards (MC ? 6.7, AUA ? 74.0), all the samples did not pass the parameters, except the pectin extracted using 3N sulfuric acid at 90°C (MC = 6.76, AUA = 74.61).

CONCLUSION: Among the different solvents used for extraction, 3N sulfuric acid produced the highest percent yield of pharmaceutical grade pectin from pomelo fruit peel. Its optimum temperature for extraction was at 90°C. The sample passed the USP standards of MC values not less than 6.76 and AUA values not less than 74. Under the following conditions, pomelo fruit peel have the potential for commercial-scale production of pharmaceutical grade pectin.

Plant ; Citrus

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to characterize and compare the physicochemical and pharmacopoeial properties of starches isolated from the seeds of Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco (marang), Nephelium lappaceum L. (rambutan), and unripe green Mangifera indica L. (mango) with corn starch, as possible sources of pharmaceutical grade starch.

METHODS: The starch from the seeds of these fruits was isolated and characterized through their physicochemical (organoleptic characteristics, percent yield, amylose-amylopectin ratio, bulk density, tapped density, compressibility index, Hausner ratio, angle of repose, solubility, swelling power, and viscosity) and pharmacopoeial properties (identification test, pH, loss on drying, and limit of iron). Morphology of the granules was also assessed.

RESULTS: The physicochemical properties showed that amylose content of the seed starches was significantly lower (p=0.001) and amylopectin content significantly higher (p=0.001) than the native high amylose corn starch. The lower values of bulk and tapped densities, and high values in compressibility index and Hausner ratio of the seed starches compared to corn starch may be due to their smaller particles. The results of the pharmacopoeial characterization showed compliance with the United States Pharmacopeia's (USP) acceptable limits, except for the pH of marang seeds.

CONCLUSION: The starches isolated from the fruit seeds have unique properties, but only rambutan seed starch has the most desirable physicochemical and pharmacopoeial properties that is comparable with corn starch. Rambutan seeds could be utilized as a source of starch for pharmaceutical applications.

Plant ; Mangifera ; Seeds ; Starch