DISINTEGRATING AGENT

PURPOSE:A disintegrating agent, containing a modified starch having a specific swelling degree, and having improved disintegrating and tableting properties. CONSTITUTION:A disintegrating agent containing a modified starch, e.g. obtained by processing a subterranean stem of a potato, sweet potato or tapioca, and having a swelling degree of 3.0-6.0, preferably 4.0-5.5. The modified startch is obtained by kneading a hydrated and humidified starch having a moisture of 30-60%, preferably 40-55%, in a speed kneader, etc., gelatinizing the kneaded starch under heating at 70-150, preferably 80-120 deg.C, cooling the kneaded starch to 20 deg.C or below, partially crystallizing the starch, and drying and pulverizing the crystallized starch. The amount necessary for the agent is at least 30% or more, preferably 50% or more, in the disintegrating agent, and a disintegrating agent, e.g. another starch, surfactant or calcium carboxylmethyl cellulose, may be used together.