Abstract
Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC. (Cat's claw) is a plant member of the Rubiaceae family, from the Amazon region, and used in traditional medicine as raw material for phytomedicines indicated for arthritis and osteoarthritis. This study aimed to evaluate the spray drying process parameters on the properties of different extracts obtained from Uncaria tomentosa. A reduced 24-1 multifactorial design was applied to evaluate the importance of the equipment variables (pump speed, spray nozzle diameter, air inlet temperature, and atomization airflow rate) in the process. Maltodextrin and acacia gum were used as carriers in a 1:1 (m/m) ratio, considering the solid residue content of the liquid plant extract. Process yield, moisture, and hygroscopicity were evaluated as dependent variables. Higher atomization airflow rate led to higher process yield for powdered dried extracts with maltodextrin. Higher temperature led to lower moisture contents regarding powdered dried extracts with acacia gum. No variable, for any carrier, was considered significant for hygroscopicity. The best spray drying configuration for the desired characteristics (i.e. lower hygroscopicity and moisture) used the larger spray nozzle with a diameter of 1.2 mm and the higher temperature of 150 °C, with both carriers.
Highlights
Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC. is popularly known as Cat's claw due to its curved spines
In Brazil, the coated tablets and the capsules containing powdered dried extract of U. tomentosa are provided by the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS), and they are indicated for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis[2]
Since it is not possible to infer to the operating conditions of the spray drying process, based on previous results from similar studies with other plant/carrier systems[4], this study aims to evaluate the variables related to the drying apparatus to obtain a powdered dried extract of U. tomentosa with high yield, and low values of hygroscopicity, and moisture using separately maltodextrin and acacia gum as carriers
Summary
Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC. is popularly known as Cat's claw due to its curved spines. Is popularly known as Cat's claw due to its curved spines It is a member of the Rubiaceae family and a native medicinal plant of South America[1]. Due to the hygroscopic characteristics of the plant’s powdered dried extract as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), a coating procedure is required to increase the stability of the tablets. Certain compounds, called carriers or wall materials, can be added before the drying procedure to adjust the extract’s properties such as its morphological and granulometric characteristics, chemical, physicochemical properties, and its stability. They may be influenced by the equipment variables[3]
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