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Tablets & Capsules October 2020 25 to a formulation to achieve the desired binding proper- ties. Customer-specific premixes made from various certi- fied natural raw materials, on the other hand, can simplify development, handling, and the manufacturing process. Natural disintegrants Disintegrants are substances or mixtures of substances formulators add to a formulation to increase the disper- sion or breakup of tablets and capsules into smaller par- ticles for fast dissolution. Popular synthetic superdisinte- grants include cross-linked PVP, MCC, croscarmellose sodium, and sodium starch glycolate, all of which are chemical-sounding names that are unsuitable for clean label products. More natural sounding raw materials that can act as disintegrants include: mucilage of ispaghula or psyllium husks, cress, gum karaya, fenugreek seed and gum of locust bean, chitin and chitosan, gellan, agar, algi- nates, oat fiber, xanthan, cucurbita maxima pulp powder, hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn, and mango peel pectin. As with dry binders, 1:1 disintegrant replacement is not possible in most cases. A dry powdered premix com- pound based on natural and certified organic ingredients (such as Biogrund's CompactCel DIS) can replace syn- thetic disintegrants in tablet, capsule, and granule formu- lations and enable the rapid break-up upon contact with moisture required by a fast-release solid oral dosage form. From oil to powder to capsules naturally Manufacturers are increasingly looking to add natural sources of vitamins, probiotics, omega 3-6-9 fatty acids, antioxidants, amino acids, and hemp to their natural supplement products. These nutrients often come in the form of an oil or oily powder. For oily powders, micro- encapsulation can be beneficial, especially if the oily powder is then filled into hard capsules, which allows precision dosing of ingredients or nutrients. Flavor and odor masking can minimize unpleasant tastes and smells associated with certain nutrients. Protection from mois- The trend toward organic foods has been evident for several years as consumers develop a greater awareness of organic products [1]. Dietary supplement manufacturers are also slowly changing to organic formulations, as con- sumers increasingly look to avoid chemical or synthetic ingredients. Therefore, dietary supplement manufacturers are under increasing pressure to replace traditional bind- ers with more natural-sounding ingredients. The same challenge applies to fillers, flow agents, lubricants, disintegrants, and pigments, including mag- nesium stearate, stearic acid, silica, and synthetic colors. This move toward more natural ingredients is part of the so-called "Clean Label" movement, which also attaches importance to the sustainability of raw materials. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are also beginning to use more natural ingredients as excipients due to their increasing availability, relatively low costs, lower toxicity, and fewer side effects. The application of natural ingre- dients in pharmaceuticals is expected to expand in the coming years along with consumer demand. The aging population in developed countries is expected to increase the future rate of chronic disease and stimulate demand for pharmaceuticals. At the same time, consumers are looking to natural products to improve their general well-being and prevent illness [2]. Replacing synthetic binders Binders give cohesion to the loose particles or gran- ules in a tablet formulation. This ensures that the tablet remains intact after compression. To replace conven- tional binders such as HPC, MCC, and PVP, a natural binder must be able to produce tablets with the same mechanical strength and release properties. Table 1 shows some starches, gums, mucilages, and dried fruits that have binding capacity as well as other characteris- tics, such as filler and disintegrant properties, and that could be used as alternatives to synthetic binders. By working closely with their ingredient suppliers, tablet manufacturers can successfully change a formula- tion from a synthetic binder to natural or organic ingre- dients. A natural ingredient cannot typically replace a synthetic ingredient 1:1, however. Users usually must add several natural raw materials in different concentrations Source Material Animal Chitosan and chitin, chondroitin sulphate Marine Agar, alginic acid, laminarin Microbial (bacteria & fungi) Xanthan, dextran Plant Shrub/tree exudates (gum Arabica, gum ghatti) Seed gums Guar gum, locust gum Extracts Pectin, larch gum Tubers and roots Potato starch Table 1 Example sources of natural binders By working closely with their ingredient suppliers, tablet manufacturers can successfully change a formulation from a synthetic binder to natural or organic ingredients.