Abstract

*Bediako Ango, Kuntworbe Noble, Raphael Johnson and Ofori-Kwakye Kwabena

ABSTRACT

Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is a perennial shrub that naturally grows in abundance in the tropics. The swollen roots are rich in Starch and approximately half of the total produce are utilized for Starch production. Recently, cassava starches have been investigated in the pharmaceutical industry as formulation excipients and potential drug delivery carriers like microparticles and nanoparticles. The diversity of these cassava starches concerning physical, chemical, enzymatic, genetic and functional properties modifications has indicated promises of being utilized as substitutes for some commercially available pharmaceutical excipients. Their applications as excipients and drug delivery carriers can add value to this seemingly neglected and underutilized cassava crop and also provide the accompanying modified starches with special properties for specific pharmaceutical formulations. However, literature search indicates only a scanty report on cassava, and thereby, this huge potential of related Starches is yet to be fully pharmaceutically harnessed. In this review, extensive literature search is conducted on available profile of cassava starches within the last decade to create a pool of knowledge to serve as a potential reference source. This review which summarizes the present knowledge on cassava starches, indicates that they shall continue to be materials of cherished importance in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery models owing to their excellent characteristic properties like ease of modification, low cost and susceptibility to wider applications. Notwithstanding, the lack of comprehensive toxicity and safety profile studies of cassava starches remains a critical limitation to their commercialization.