Konjac glucomannan, a promising polysaccharide for OCDDS

• Chemical structure of konjac glucomannan from others’ researches.
• Physiochemical properties of konjac glucomannan.
• Progress of modified konjac glucomannan as excipients in OCDDS.
• Future research value for konjac glucomannan in OCDDS.

Oral colon targeting drug delivery system (OCDDS) is a highly effective formulation for drugs absorbed by colon, or to treat colonic diseases specifically. To obtain colon targeting, many pharmaceutical approaches have been studied, among which, taking advantage of specific degradation of excipients by colon enzymes is one of the most promising strategies. With properties of specific colon β-mannanase degradation, biocompatibility, gel-forming, low toxicity and high stability, konjac glucomannan (KGM) becomes a promising natural excipient for oral OCDDS. This paper summaries structure and properties of KGM, reviews achievements and prospects on KGM and modified konjac glucomannan about their application as pharmaceutic excipient for the OCDDS recently.