A review on the potency of halal gelatin: Sources, extraction process, physicochemical properties, and application in the pharmaceutical industry

Background Gelatin production has increased dramatically due to the pharmaceutical industry's demand for stabilizing agents, emulsifiers, thickeners, gelling agents, and capsules. Regrettably, the production of non-halal gelatin continues to rise to meet global market demands . Objective Consequently, alternative halal gelatin sources must be thoroughly investigated to reduce or eliminate the reliance on non-halal gelatin. Current Study This review evaluates several halal gelatin sources, including fish, camel, and goat gelatin. The findings indicate that different gelatin sources exhibit distinct physicochemical and rheological characteristics, which determine their suitability for specific pharmaceutical applications. Results Fish gelatin is an excellent candidate for halal-compliant research due to its medicinal bioactivities, including antihypertensive and anti-cancer properties. However, the current challenge exists in enhancing its low gelling and melting temperatures to effectively support advanced drug delivery systems. This research demonstrated the beneficial attributes of camel gelatin. However, getting this material is difficult because of the animal's perceived high cost and restricted distribution outside of Arab regions. Conclusion This review reveals that using fish-derived gelatin is a highly effective technique for limiting your reliance on non-halal alternatives. Further study is required to produce gelatin with the physical and chemical properties acceptable for medical purposes.