title: Psyllium as therapeutic and drug delivery agent.
abstract: There is no doubt that fibers, in particular viscous dietary fibers, have positive effects on human health, both in the prevention and in treatment of chronic diseases. Dietary fibers from psyllium have been used extensively both as pharmacological supplements, food ingredients, in processed food to aid weight control, to regulation of glucose control for diabetic patients and reducing serum lipid levels in hyperlipidemics. Keeping in view, the pharmacological importance of psyllium polysaccharide and its gel-forming nature, this article discusses the therapeutic value of psyllium for the treatment of constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease-ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia and exploitation of psyllium for developing drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla 171005, India. baljitsinghhpu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Baljit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D002400:Cathartics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011620:Psyllium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D011620:Psyllium