What's different about gelatin capsules?

Update:18 Jul 2022

Different raw materials
The main raw material of vegetable capsules is medicinal hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMA), which is the most abundant natural polymer in nature and is physically extracted from marine or terrestrial plants; gelatin capsules are medicinal gelatin derived from animals ( Mainly the collagen in the skin, tendons and bones of pigs, cattle and sheep) is chemically extracted.

Different stability
The HPMC in vegetable capsules is stable in nature (does not react chemically with air and water), and does not cross-link with some drugs. It has wide adaptability, stable drug release rate, complete dissolution, more significant curative effect and small individual differences. After HPMC is made into capsule shell, it still has a natural concept, and no preservatives need to be added during the production process; gelatin capsules are easy to breed bacteria and microorganisms, and preservatives need to be added during the production process (resulting in paraben preservative residues and epoxy alcohol, chloroethanol residue, etc.).

Different storage conditions
Vegetable capsules are not brittle under low humidity conditions, and the capsule shells can still be kept stable under high humidity conditions. The storage conditions are wide, and the temperature is between 10 - 40 ℃ and the humidity is between 35 - 65%, and they will not soften, deform or harden and become brittle. The gelatin capsules are hardened by water loss under low humidity conditions, and the capsules are adhered under high humidity conditions, and the storage and transportation conditions are relatively strict. HPMC is metabolically inert, it is not absorbed in the body, and is directly excreted from the body. The plant capsule is not easy to grow microorganisms, and it will not decompose and deteriorate when placed for a long time. The usual validity period is 36 months.

It tastes different after burning
The identification of vegetable capsules is also very simple. When the capsule shell is ignited, the vegetable capsules will smell of burning cotton, and the gelatin capsules will smell of burning protein (similar to the smell of burning hair).