Utilization of Corn Cob Hemicellulose in Swelling Tablet Formulations as a Novel Approach of Dietary Therapy

Background: Obesity is a growing global public health concern that requires safe, effective, and sustainable approaches to support weight management. Natural polysaccharides, particularly hemicellulose derived from agricultural waste, offer promising potential for developing swelling tablets due to their hydrophilic properties and ability to form polymeric matrices. Objective: This study aimed to formulate and characterize corn cob hemicellulose-based swelling tablets using chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and crosslinking components. Methods: This experimental study involved corn cob preparation, delignification, hemicellulose extraction, tablet formulation, and physicochemical characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results: The isolated hemicellulose was obtained as a white powder with a yield below 20%. Characterization indicated polymer-network formation, porous morphology, and distinct XRD diffraction features. Chitosan–PVA and chitosan PVA STPP formulations produced visually intact tablets that exhibited swelling while maintaining structural integrity for 2 4 hours. Conclusion: Corn cob hemicellulose demonstrates potential as a renewable polymeric material for developing swelling tablets. However, further quantitative evaluation of swelling capacity, mechanical properties, and safety is required to establish its suitability for weight management applications.