Abstract

Excipients are the various ingredients, apart from the active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are added to pharmaceutical formulations. Excipients obtained from natural sources are preferred over those from synthetic sources because they are cheap, biocompatible and readily available. Gums are made up of carbohydrate units which are linked by glycosidic bonds. This study was aimed at evaluating the potential binding and disintegrating properties of gum obtained from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which was obtained from Effiduase in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The gum was extracted using 96% ethanol and the moisture content, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, water holding capacity, swelling index and flow properties of the gum were determined. The gum was used to formulate tablets at different concentrations (10% w/v, 15% w/v and 20% w/v) as binder with acacia as the standard. The gum was also used to formulate tablets at different concentrations (5% w/v, 7.5% w/v and 10% w/v) as disintegrant with starch as the standard. Quality control tests were then conducted on all formulated tablets. The gum exhibited good flow and physicochemical properties. All formulated tablets passed the uniformity of weight test, friability test, disintegration test, hardness test, uniformity of dimensions test and drug content. All batches of tablets, except Batch 7, passed the dissolution test. Based on the study carried out, C. zeylanicum gum can be used as an alternative excipient to acacia and starch as a binder and a disintegrant, respectively. Significance: A natural polysaccharide (gum) from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree can be harnessed and commodified as a pharmaceutical excipient (binder and disintegrant) in the production of immediate release tablets.

Highlights

  • Pharmaceutical excipients constitute about 90% of dosage forms and can be defined as any substance added to the active pharmaceutical ingredient(s) during the process of pharmaceutical manufacturing.[1]

  • In pharmaceutical formulations, excipients may be employed as binders and disintegrants in immediate release tablets

  • Natural polysaccharides like mucilages, starches and gums are used as fillers, binders and disintegrants.[4]

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Summary

Introduction

Pharmaceutical excipients constitute about 90% of dosage forms and can be defined as any substance added to the active pharmaceutical ingredient(s) during the process of pharmaceutical manufacturing.[1] In pharmaceutical formulations, excipients may be employed as binders and disintegrants in immediate release tablets. In formulating immediate release tablets, binders promote the cohesiveness of powder mixtures, improving the flow of granules and the strength of the resulting tablet.[2] Disintegrants are included in the formulation of tablets to facilitate their break-up into smaller fragments in an aqueous medium. Binders and disintegrants may be from natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic sources. Pharmaceutical excipients obtained from natural origin are known to be economical, biodegradable, safe and relatively abundant.[3] In pharmaceutical industries, natural polysaccharides like mucilages, starches and gums are used as fillers, binders and disintegrants.[4]

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