Modification effects on some physicochemical properties of starch extracted from Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br. (Lamiaceae) tubers
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: There has been renewed interest in the modification of starches obtained from locally available plant materials for industrial use. This study evaluated the effects of modification on some physicochemical properties of Plectranthus esculentus starch. Modification of the native starch was achieved by acetylation, carboxymethylation, starch xerogel formation, and by dual modification processes involving a combination of acetylation followed by oxidation, and acetylation followed by xerogel formation. The native and modified starch materials were evaluated against the ICH standards and requirements for pharmaceutical grade starch: the degree of substitution, total microbial load content, starch microscopy, starch thermal behaviour, proximate, elemental and phytochemical composition. Results from the physicochemical characters revealed how modification influences the purity of the starch derivatives by decreasingsome of the major starch contaminants (proteins and fats), absence of bioactive constituents, microbial contaminant and elemental impurities makes them relevant for intended use as excipients. Derivatives of CMS, ACS-XG and XG were thermally stable and did not exhibit thermal transitions upon heating. The implication of the results is that modification of Plectranthus esculentus starch, improved on the physicochemical properties evaluated for the starch derivatives and may provide a suitable alternative as excipients in pharmaceutical application.
DOI: 10.4314/jpb.v22i2.1
Institutions: National Veterinary Research Institute, University of Jos
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411149727