Inulin: A novel and stretchy polysaccharide tool for biomedical and nutritional applications

Inulin (INU) is a flexible, fructan type polysaccharide carbohydrate, mainly obtained from the root of chicory. It is a water-soluble dietary fibre and has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for improving the nutritional values of food products. INU is not digested or fermented in the initial portion of the human digestive system and directly reaches on the distal portion of the colon. Owing to this superior property, INU is specially applied to develop specific carrier systems for localized delivery of drugs related to colon diseases. Several studies proved that the fermented bi-products of INU help the growth and stimulating activity of colon bacteria e.g. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacilli. INU also has several inherent therapeutic effects like reduction of tumor risks, help in calcium ion absorption, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties etc. Apart from these, INU has been used for different pharmaceutical applications as a drug carrier, stabilizing agent, cryoprotectant, and an alternative to fats and sugars. Here, we review the applications of INU in different areas of biomedical science, look back into the nutritional effects of INU and outline various routes of administration of INU-based formulations.