The rate of drug release from different biopolymers is influenced by the relative contribution and interplay between swelling and dissolution processes as well as the emulsification capacity. However, such functional properties are controlled by the extraction protocol that influences the backbone composition of the extracted biopolymer. The aims of the present investigation, therefore, were to study the functional properties of polysaccharides extracted from okra obtained at pH 6.0 in food and pharmaceutical applications. To this end, swelling and dissolution properties of hydrophilic matrix tablets and emulsifying capacity were studied. Two model drugs
were used in the studies, one with low aqueous solubility, flurbiprofen (8.0 mg/L), and one with moderate solubility (theophylline, 7.3 g/L)