Functional Category
Stabilizing agent; sucrose crystallization modifier.
Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation
Raffinose is a trisaccharide carbohydrate that is used as a bulking agent, blood substitute, stabilizing agent, and water scavenger in freeze-drying where it acts as a stabilizer for freeze-dried formulations.(1,2) It is also used as a crystallization inhibitor in sucrose solutions.(3–5)
Description
Raffinose is a white crystalline powder. It is odorless and has a sweet taste approximately 10% that of sucrose.(6)
Stability and Storage Conditions
Raffinose is stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage. Excessive heat should be avoided to prevent degradation. Thermal SEM 1: Excipient: D-(þ)-raffinose pentahydrate; manufacturer: SigmaAldrich (Lot No. 092K01211); magnification: 100. SEM 2: Excipient: D-(þ)-raffinose pentahydrate; manufacturer: SigmaAldrich (Lot No. 092K01211); magnification: 500. R 603 decomposition products are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.(19,20)
Incompatibilities
Raffinose is incompatible with strong oxidizers.(21)
Safety
Raffinose is a naturally occurring trisaccharide investigated for use in freeze-dried pharmaceutical formulations. It occurs in a number of plants that are consumed widely (see Section 13).