Abstract

Inulin (IN) is a prebiotic oligosaccharide reported in diverse sources of nature. The major sources encompass chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, barley, garlic, rye, and wheat. The literature also reported its promising biological activities, e.g., antidiabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, immuneregulator and prebiotic for improving intestinal function, regulation of blood lipids, and so on. IN’s molecular flexibility, stabilization, and drug-targeting potential make it a unique polymer in pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering. Further, its nutritional value and diagnostic application also widen its scope in food and medical sciences. The hydroxyl groups present in its structure offer chemical modifications, which could benefit advanced drug delivery such as controlled and sustained drug delivery, enhancement of bioavailability, cellular uptake, etc. This work reviews the isolation and purification of IN. The study also provides glimpses of the chemistry, chemical modification, and applications in pharmaceutical sciences and drug delivery.

Keywords: Inulin, prebiotics, drug targeting, food science, drug delivery, biomedical engineering.