Sugar and sugar containing drugs

Sucrose

Source: Sucrose is also known as saccharum or table sugar and widely distributed in plants. It
is obtained commercially from Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane), Beta vulgaris (sugar beet)
and other sources.

Uses:
 As pharmaceutic necessity for syrups  As bacteriostatic and preservative
 As demulcent (relieves irritation)  Sweetener to mask disagreeable
taste resulting from the hydrolysis of
Invert sugar: a mixture of equal parts of glucose and fructose
sucrose.

Dextrose

Source: α-D-(+)-glucose occurs naturally in grapes and other fruits.

Uses:
 As nutrient
 As ingredient in dextrose injection
 Also used in anticoagulant citrate-dextrose solution
Fructose
Source: Also called levulose or D-fructose or fruit sugar. Fructose is a ketose that occurs
naturally in many sweet fruits (hence the name fruit sugar) and in honey.

Uses:
 As sweetener (for diabetic patients)
 Fructose is an ingredient in fructose injection or fructose-NaCl injection

Lactose

Source: When the milk is allowed to stand for a few hours, the fat globules rise to the top.
Each globule is surrounded by an albuminous layer. When churned, the fat globules unite to
form butter, leaving a liquid known as buttermilk. The milk left after separation of cream (milk
fat) is known as skimmed milk. When skimmed milk is treated with enzyme rennin, it forms a
coagulum (comprised of casein micelles). The liquid separated is called whey, and contains
lactose and inorganic salts. Lactose or milk sugar is sugar obtained from milk. The sugar is
crystallized from the whey.

Uses:

 As diluents (in tablet formulation)

 As nutrients in infant’s food
Lactose intolerance: It is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the
predominant sugar of milk. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which
is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactase breaks down the lactose
into glucose and galactose that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. Some adults have
low levels of lactase. This leads to lactose intolerance. The ingested lactose is not absorbed in
the small intestine, but instead is fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, producing
uncomfortable volumes of carbon dioxide gas. Common symptoms include nausea, cramps,
bloating, gas, and diarrhea, which begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking
foods containing lactose.

Lactulose: It is a semi-synthetic sugar prepared by alkaline rearrangement of lactose. It yields

fructose and galactose upon hydrolysis. Lactulose is poorly absorbed and most orally ingested
lactulose reaches the colon unchanged. Bacteria in the colon metabolize the disaccharide to
acetic acid and lactic acid. Sufficient accumulation of these irritating acids gives the laxative
effect. Uses: As laxative agent in chronic constipation.

Mannitol

Source: It is a hexahydric alcohol obtained by reduction of mannose or by isolation from

manna. Manna is dried saccharine exudates of Fraxinus ornus and contains 50-60% mannitol.

Uses:
 Monitor kidney function: mannitol is not absorbed from the GIT. When it is
administered parenterally, it is not metabolized and is eliminated readily by glomerular
filtration. For these causes’ mannitol is used as diagnostic aid and osmotic diuretics (to
restore kidney function).
 Has laxative properties (it increases intestinal content, which increases peristalsis).

 Since it draws water in lumen, more urine is produced relieving edema. Hence, it is
used as an osmotic diuretic.

Inulin

Inulin or hydrous inulin is a Difructofuranose polymer whose residues are linked in linear
fashion by β – 2,1 glycoside linkage.

Uses:
 It is used in culture media as a fermentative identifying agent for certain bacteria.
 It is also used in special laboratory methods for the evaluation of renal function. It is
filtered only by the glomeruli and neither excreted nor reabsorbed by the tubules. If less
percentage of inulin is excreted, it indicates disorders in glomerulus.
Sorbitol

Source: Sorbitol is a hexitol that was originally obtained from the ripe berries of the mountain
ash, Sorbus aucuparia. It also occurs in many fruits but is generally prepared from glucose by
hydration or by electrolytic reduction.

Uses:

 Humectant properties (used as an ingredient in toothpaste, chewing gums)

 In combination with saccharine (non caloric sweetener) in dietetic beverages as it acts
as laxative. Hence, it aids people in diet.
Starch

Sources: Corn and other cereals, such as rice, sorghum and wheat are the major source of
starch. Commercial starch is also obtained from potato tubers, maranta rhizomes and cassava
roots.

Uses:

 As tablet filler, binder and disintegrant (Sodium starch glycolate).

 Starch is used as dusting powder (in gloves to avoid static electricity).
 Used as antidote in iodine poisoning (due to amylose).
Xylose
Sources: It is a pentose obtained by boiling corn cobs, straw or similar products with dil. Acid
to hydrolyze the xylan polymer.

Uses:

 As tablet filler, binder and disintegrant (Sodium starch glycolate).

 Starch is used as dusting powder (in gloves to avoid static electricity).
 Used as antidote in iodine poisoning (due to amylose).

Cellulose Derivatives
 Purified Cotton: It is used as a surgical dressing; it serves as a mechanical protection to
absorb blood, mucus, or pus and to keep bacteria from infecting wounds.
 Powdered Cellulose:
-It is purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose.
-It exists in various grades and exhibits different degrees of fineness.
-Disintegration depends on degrees of fineness.
-It is used a self-binding tablet diluent and disintegrating agents
 Microcrystalline cellulose: It is a purified, partially depolymerized cellulose. It is used as
a diluent in the production of tablets.
 Methylcellulose: Methyl ether of cellulose containing not less than 27.5% and not more
than 31.5% of methyl groups.
Use: It is a bulk laxative and a suspending agent. Ophthalmic solution of methylcellulose is
used as topical protectants and these products are marketed as “artificial tears” or contact less
solutions (CMC, HPMC).
 Ethyl cellulose: cellulose containing not less than 44% and not more than 51% of ethyl
groups.
Use: Used as tablet binder and emulsifier. Also used as film coating to increase palatability,
mask undesirable taste, protect from acidic environment of stomach, increase aesthetic value
etc.
 Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC): It is the hydroxy propyl ether of
methylcellulose.
Use: It is used as a suspending agent, and tablet excipients such as thickening agent in liquid,
binder or film coating material for tablet.
 Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC): Sodium salt of polycarboxymethyl ether of cellulose.
Use: Suspending agent, thickening agent and a bulk laxative.
 Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP): A reaction product of phthalic anhydride and a partial
acetate ester of cellulose.
Use: Used for enteric coating of tablets or capsules and for controlled release formulations.

Gums and Mucilages

Gums are pathological products formed upon injury of the plant or to unfavorable conditions
such as drought by a breakdown of cell walls that is extracellular formation. Gums readily
dissolve in water. E.g.: gum tragacanth, gum arabic, Agar, Sodium alginate etc.

Gums are heterogenous in composition; upon hydrolysis, they produce arabinose, galactose,
mannose, xylose, uronic acids.

Uses: ingredients in dental and other adhesives, tablet binder, suspending and thickening
agents, gelating agents, emulsifiers.
Mucilages are physiological products of metabolism formed within the cell that is intracellular
formation and may represent storage material, a water- storage reservoir or a protection for
germinating seeds. In water, mucilages form slimy masses. It is used in medicine as it relieves
irritation of mucous membranes by forming a protective film.

Agar: It is the dried, hydrophilic, colloidal substances extracted from red algae.

Uses:
 Suspending agent
 Gel in bacteriologic culture media
 Agar-agar is a natural vegetable gelatin counterpart