What is the difference between plant capsules and gelatin capsules

In the field of modern medicine and nutrition, capsule, as a common dosage form, its function is to package and protect drugs or nutrients from the external environment such as moisture, air, light, and at the same time, it can also cover up bad odors and improve Taking experience. However, there are many types of capsules, of which vegetable capsules and gelatin capsules are the two most common. Although they are the same capsules, there are significant differences in raw materials, stability, storage conditions and production processes.

First of all, from the perspective of raw materials, there is an essential difference between plant capsules and gelatin capsules. Plant capsules mainly use natural polymers such as medicinal hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as raw materials. These polymers are usually extracted from marine or terrestrial plants by physical methods. This raw material is more environmentally friendly and contains no animal ingredients, making it suitable for vegetarians or people who are sensitive to ingredients of animal origin. The gelatin capsule is based on animal skin, tendons and bone collagen as the main raw material, extracted by chemical methods. Although this raw material is widely available, it may have the risk of animal disease transmission and does not meet the dietary requirements of certain groups of people.

Secondly, there is a clear difference in stability between the two. Plant capsules have excellent stability due to their unique raw materials and production processes. It does not chemically react with water or air, nor does it cross-link with the drug, so it can ensure the stability of the drug in the capsule, so that the drug release rate is more stable, the dissolution is more thorough, thereby improving the efficacy. In contrast, the stability of gelatin capsules is poor. Since gelatin itself is a protein, it is easily attacked by microorganisms and bacteria, so preservatives need to be added during the production process to extend its shelf life. In addition, gelatin capsules are also susceptible to humidity and temperature, softening, adhesion or hardening, which affects their use.

Again, the storage conditions of the two are also quite different. Vegetable capsules have relatively low requirements for storage conditions due to their excellent stability. Whether it is a high humidity or low humidity environment, as long as the humidity is maintained between 30% and 60% within the appropriate temperature range (generally 10~40 ℃), the plant capsule can maintain good performance and will not soften or harden and become brittle. This makes the plant capsule more convenient during transportation and storage, and reduces quality problems caused by environmental factors. Gelatin capsules, on the other hand, have stricter requirements for storage conditions. In a low humidity environment, gelatin capsules are prone to hardening, causing the capsule shell to become brittle and fragile; while in a high humidity environment, adhesion is prone to occur, making the capsules difficult to separate. Therefore, when storing and transporting gelatin capsules, it is necessary to strictly control the ambient humidity and temperature to ensure its stable quality.

In addition, from the production process and the use of additives, plant capsules and gelatin capsules are also different. The process of making plant capsules is simpler and more environmentally friendly, and usually does not require the addition of too many chemical additives. The gelatin capsule in the production process may need to add some plasticizers, opacifiers, sustained-release excipients, etc., in order to improve the performance of the capsule and give it special functions. Although these additives improve the applicability of gelatin capsules to some extent, they also increase their potential safety risks.

In summary, there are significant differences between plant capsules and gelatin capsules in terms of raw materials, stability, storage conditions and production processes. As consumers pay more and more attention to health and safety, plant capsules, as a more natural, environmentally friendly and stable dosage form, are gradually favored by the market. However, gelatin capsules still occupy a certain share in the market due to their advantages such as low cost and mature production technology. In the future, with the continuous progress of science and technology and the continuous change of consumer demand, these two capsule dosage forms may have broader development prospects and application fields.