Vegetable Capsule Shell: Types and Regulation

Typical gelatin sourced capsule shells have been used for almost a century in the pharmaceutical field. Gelatin is largely derived from cows, pigs and other animals. In the recent time to satisfy the religious belief, cultural and personal issues towards non-veg capsules shell and patients’ preference towards the medications contains only vegetarian source and increasing demand of vegan food research on vegetable source of capsule shell increase. Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) is primary material studied and used in manufacturing of vegetable capsule shell. This review covers published literature and discussion regarding alternate option of gelatin capsules shell as vegetable capsule shells.