Do softgel manufacturing or gastric conditions break down carrageenan into poligeenan?
Abstract
Carrageenan (CGN) is a high molecular weight (typically 200-800 kDa) polysaccharide derived from red seaweed. It is used as a food additive and as a functional excipient in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. In softgels, CGN can offer advantages over gelatin, including pH tolerance up to 12, thermal stability during processing (70-90 °C), and resistance to cross-linking. However, under extreme conditions, such as prolonged exposure to strong acid and temperatures exceeding 100 °C, CGN may degrade into low-molecular-weight fragments (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
Collagen: Extraction and Characterization
Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 47
- Pages
- 102645–102645
- Publication date
- 9 June 2026
- Language
- EN