Neem Gum as an Alternative to Synthetic Pharmaceutical Excipients

Abstract

Background Use of natural excipients benefits the national economy by delivering low-cost formulations and utilising locally available resources. The current study aimed to determine the ability of neem gum to serve as a binding and suspending agent as an alternative to synthetic excipients.Objective To prepare aceclofenac tablets and suspension by using locally available neem gum and to investigate the effect of neem gum on aceclofenac release from tablets and suspension.Methodology Aceclofenac tablets were prepared by wet granulation method containing mannitol as diluent using neem gum as a binding agent in concentrations of 2.5 5 7.5 and 10 ww and 7.5 ww of PVP as reference binding agent in the tablet formulation. In preparation of aceclofenac suspensions neem gum at concentrations of 0.5 1 1.5 and 2 wv were selected to function as suspending agent and the reference suspending agent used was 1.5 wv of sodium carboxymethylcellulose CMC.nbsp Results Investigation by the FT-IR spectroscopy and Differential scanning calorimetry DSC indicated that there were no chemical interactions between aceclofenac and neem gum. Prepared aceclofenac granules were evaluated and found satisfactory results for Carrrsquos index 9.14 -12.63 angle of repose 26.72 - 28.32deg and Haunserrsquos ratio 1.09 - 1.13. The corresponding tablets showed remarkable values for friability 0.45 - 0.86 disintegration time 243 - 321 sec and hardness 3.24 - 5.94 kgcm2. Aceclofenac suspension exhibited appropriate sedimentation volume 64 ndash 100 redispersibility 1 - 3 strokes pH 5.32 - 6.27 degree of flocculation 1.06 - 1.15.Conclusion As the concentration of neem gum in the formulation increased the rate of drug release slowed. Neem gum revealed a significant ability to bind granules in aceclofenac tablets at 10 ww and a good suspending capacity in aceclofenac suspension at 2 wv.