Halal vegetarian capsule
A capsule is a two-piece enclosure that contains active ingredients for supplements or medications.
People often opt for capsules because they are easily swallowable and can break down faster in the digestive system.
Most capsule products are of animal origin, derived from the hydrolysis of collagen from bovine, fish or swine.
Animal origin capsules have raised concern for certain people such as vegetarians, vegans and religious or ethnic groups who are prohibited from using animal products. As an alternative, vegetarian capsules have been introduced to meet the demands of this specific group of people.
Stating that bovine capsules risks transmitting bovine spongiform encephalopathy (a progressive neurological disorder of cattle), Dr Pushpamalar Janarthanan from the School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, is researching halal vegetarian capsules to target consumers who observe dietary laws that forbid certain animal products.
“The Halal Vegetarian capsule is a plant-sourced alternative capsule. The self-aware people of health and well-being drive the overall growth of the empty capsules market in the Asia Pacific.
“They are more aware of the animal-based capsules and demands for plant-based capsules, which encourage companies to look for alternative sources to make capsules. Thus, using plant biomass to produce the vegetarian capsules increases health supplements of nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals and reduces production costs,” Dr Pushpamalar said.
Dr Pushpamalar has been working on the halal vegetarian capsule since 2019.
Her collaborators include Dr Saravanan Muniyandy from Fatima College of Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates, and former Monash Malaysia PhD student Dr Thenapakiam Sathasivam, currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
“The capsules are made of carboxymethyl sago cellulose from local sago waste, an abundantly found natural resource in Malaysia. These capsules will be able to eliminate the transmission of diseases by current animal-based capsules. We can also reduce the cost of capsule production by utilising plant biomass,” Dr Pushpamalar added.
Zion Market Research reported that the global vegetarian capsules market would generate around USD 509.13 million by the end of 2022. The significant factors include expanding pharmaceutical industries in this region and government initiatives to develop the healthcare infrastructure, including the pharmaceutical manufacturing industries.
“The government initiative is to develop the healthcare industry. Hence, the packaging of nutraceuticals and cosmeceutical products are in healthy and environmentfriendly capsule forms. For a quicker absorption rate without taste and odour, consumers prefer a fast disintegrating capsule shell material, ensuring consumer compliance,” Dr Pushpamalar said.
She also stated that the production of vegetarian capsules could prevent many factories from producing pharmaceutical gelatine and edible gelatine from waste leather which are toxic and harmful.
“The chromium content in these gelatine exceeds 16 times the standard content,” she said.
Globally, the existing technology uses gelatine and other polysaccharides.
In Malaysia, the abundance of sago waste could lead to carboxymethyl sago cellulose (CMSC) capsules at a cheaper cost.
It is promising for halal, vegetarian sourced, and diseasefree vegetarian capsules.
“Currently, the product is at the stage of product development – validation in the natural environment. The next step is to demonstrate technology in the appropriate environment,” Dr Pushpamalar shared.
Funding for the research was from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) through the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS).
Monash University Malaysia provided the facilities for the analysis of the vegetarian capsule.
Meanwhile, the formulations derived from Malaysian industrial waste: less cost, less environmental pollution, recycling and sustaining energy.
The product won a Bronze medal in Malaysia’s 32nd International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2021).
The Halal Vegetarian capsule is a plant-sourced alternative capsule. The self-aware people of health and well-being drive the overall growth of the empty capsules market in the Asia Pacific.
— Dr Pushpamalar Janarthanan, Monash University Malaysia School of Science