White to slightly yellow powder; odorless;
tasteless. Free of cystine, lysine, and
tryptophan. A resinous material dispersible in water
with neutral sulfonated castor oil; soluble in dilute
alcohol; insoluble in water, dilute acids, anhydrous
alcohols, turpentine, esters, oils, fats. Nontoxic protein
of the prolamine class, derived from corn; contains
17 amino acids. Combustible.
Zein is a prolamin obtained from corn (Zea mays Linne' (Fam.
Gramineae)). It occurs as a granular, straw- to pale yellow-colored
amorphous powder or fine flakes and has a characteristic odor and
bland taste.
Paper coating, grease-resistant coating, label
varnishes, laminated board, solid-color prints, printing
inks, food coatings, microencapsulation, fibers.
Zein is a corn protein produced from corn gluten meal. it lacks the
amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, so it is not suitable as a sole
source of dietary protein. it is insoluble in water and alcohols but is
soluble in aqueous alcohols, glycols, and glycol ethers. it functions
as a film and coating to provide a moisture barrier for nuts and grain
products. it also functions as a coating for confections and a glaze
for panned goods.
Zein has been used as a biopolymer in electrospinning technique. It has also been used to blend starch involved in the manufacture of thermoplastic material.
Zein is a protein derived from Zea mays, Gramineae. It belongs to the prolamine class and contains seventeen amino acids.
Zein is extracted from corn gluten meal with dilute propan-2-ol.
Zein is a prolamine and an alcohol soluble protein present in maize endosperm cells. Zein is a 20kDa structural protein and is encoded by the gene mapped on the short arm of maize chromosome 7. This protein lacks essential amino acids, such as lysine and tryptophan. Therefore, it has a poor nutritional value.
Pharmaceutical Applications
Zein is used as a tablet binder in wet-granulation processes or as a
tablet-coating agent mainly as a replacement for shellac. It is used
primarily as an enteric-coating agent or in extended-release oral
tablet formulations and other delivery systems. Zein is also used
in food applications as a coating agent.
Zein is used in the manufacture of fiber, adhesive, coating, ceramic, ink, cosmetic, textile, chewing gum and biodegradable plastics. This protein is a biodegradable and sustainable agropolymer. Thus, it is a great potential replacement for traditional oil-based plastics.
When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes.
Zein is used in oral pharmaceutical formulations and food
products, and is generally regarded as an essentially nontoxic and
nonirritant material at the levels employed as an excipient.
However, it may be harmful if ingested in large quantities.
Aqueous alcohols, DMF, glycols, 90% ethanol
Zein should be stored in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place. It
has not been reported to polymerize.
Incompatible with oxidizing agents.
GRAS listed. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database
(oral tablets). Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the
UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal
Ingredients.
