Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)

What is it?

Glyceryl monostearate, C21H42O4, also known as monostearin, is a mixture of variable proportions of glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate , and glyceryl esters of fatty acids present in commercial stearic acid. In industry, it can be used as an emulsifier. It also occurs naturally in the body as a fat metabolite, and is present in foods with high fat content. In pharmaceuticals, it is used as a protective coating for hygroscopic powders, and a solidifier and control release agent.^[1]