Natural Superdisintegrants in Fast Dissolving Tablet Emphasis on Banana Peel Powder as a Sustainable Pharmaceutical Excipient - A Review

Fast?dissolving tablets (FDTs) represent an advanced oral drug delivery system designed to disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity, improving patient compliance and therapeutic onset. The efficiency of FDTs is primarily governed by the type and performance of super?disintegrants incorporated into the formulation. Conventional synthetic super-disintegrants, such as croscarmellose sodium, sodium starch glycolate, and crospovidone, are effective but are often associated with higher costs, limited biodegradability, and environmental concerns. Consequently, natural super?disintegrants derived from plant and agro?waste sources have emerged as promising alternatives. Banana peel powder, an abundant agricultural waste, has gained attention due to its high cellulose and mucilage content, which impart excellent swelling and wicking properties. This review comprehensively discusses the fundamentals of fast?dissolving tablets, the mechanisms and classification of super?disintegrants, and the growing importance of natural excipients. Special emphasis is placed on banana peel powder as a sustainable natural super?disintegrant, including its physicochemical properties, comparative performance with synthetic agents, applications in diclofenac sodium and other drugs, and prospects. The review highlights banana peel powder as a viable, eco?friendly, and cost?effective excipient for modern pharmaceutical formulation development.