Characterization of Fenugreek Seeds Mucilage and its Evaluation as Suspending Agent

Abstract

Abstract: The present study was undertaken to extract mucilage from fenugreek seeds and evaluate it as suspending agent for pharmaceutical dosage forms. ThePercentage yield of Fenugreek seed mucilage was foundto be 18-20 %. Zinc oxide suspension (20% w/v) was prepared using the mucilage of fenugreek seed as a suspending agent, and it was evaluated for its stability parameters like, sedimentation volume, degree of flocculation, and redispersibility. The effect of the mucilage as the suspending agent was compared with commonly used suspending agents such as, tragacanth and acacia at the concentration of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% w/vrespectively. The results of the study indicated that, themucilage of fenugreek seed showed good stability parameters comparable to gum acacia and it did not show comparable stability parameters to that of tragacanth as suspending agent. Thus, Fenugreek seed mucilage (2%) has the potential for being used as a suspending agent.