Medicated chewing gums (MCGs)

From the past few decades scientific and technological advancement have been made in the pharmaceutical research and development of oral drug delivery system. Medicated chewing gum (MCG) has drawn attention to the researcher as potential drug delivery system. MCGs are the non-dissolving intraoral dosage form intended for local treatment of diseases of the oral cavity as well as systemic delivery after absorption through buccal mucosa in which the continuation of drug release depends up on masticatory activities. A special in-vitro apparatus was designed and constructed for release testing of MCGs which is official in European Pharmacopoeia. It is an excellent and convenient drug delivery system for self-medication and can be administered discreetly without water. Consequently at present chewing gum is a convenient drug delivery system, which is appropriate for a wide range of active substances. It is very likely that MCGs will be a common drug delivery system and could be a commercial success in imminent future. Purpose of this review article is to discuss the advantage and drawback, methods of preparation, evaluation, and release of drugs, factors affecting release, safety aspects and development with respect to the medicated chewing gums.