A Comparative Study of Triple-Layered Aceclofenac Matrix Tablets Formulated using Xanthan Gum and Guar Gum

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to develop sustained release, multilayered-matrix tablet of aceclofenac using natural polymers-guar gum (GG) and xanthan gum (XG) as carrier for core matrix and hydroxyl propylmethyl cellulose (HPMC K-15M), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) and ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30) for preparing bottom and top layers. The formulated tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight, drug content, friability, hardness, thickness, swelling index and in vitro drug release. The physicochemical properties of tablets were found within the limits. The physiochemical investigation showed that aceclofenac matrix tablet prepared with xanthan gum showed better dissolution profile as compared to that of guar gum. Matrix tablets of xanthan gum with 6% W/V xanthan gum (MTX1) showed the highest percent drug release (88.98%), while matrix tablets of guar gum with 6% W/V guar gum (MTG1) showed the highest percent drug release (73.89%) at the end of 8 hours in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer. Among the matrix tablet of xanthan gum MTX4 (with 24% W/V of xanthan) showed the lowest percent drug release (49.6%) and while among the guar gum tablets MTG4 (with 24% W/V of guar gum) showed the lowest percent drug release (48.65%) at the end of 8 hours. It was concluded that increasing the concentration of gum from 6% W/V to 24% W/V in the formulation decreased the amount of drug release from the tablet. The xanthan gum based matrix tablets of aceclofenac were found to be superior to that of guar gum matrix tablets for potential therapeutic uses.