Abstract
This study is aimed at evaluating the binding effect of Acacia etbaica gum in granule and tablet formulations using paracetamol as a model drug. Some physicochemical properties of the purified gum such as pH, the presence of tannin and dextrin, solubility, viscosity, loss on drying, total ash value, water solubility index, swelling power, moisture sorption, and powder flow properties were investigated. Paracetamol granules were prepared using wet granulation method at 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% w/w of the Acacia etbaica gum and compared with granules prepared with reference binders (PVP K-30 and Acacia BP) in similar concentrations. The granules were characterized for bulk and tapped densities, compressibility index and Hausner ratio, angle of repose, flow rate, and friability. Finally, the prepared granules were compressed into tablets and evaluated for different tablet characteristics: weight uniformity, thickness, diameter, crushing strength, tensile strength, friability, disintegration time, and in vitro release profile. The physicochemical characterization revealed that tannins and dextrin are absent in the gum, and the gum has acidic pH. Both the moisture content and total ash values were within the official limits. Furthermore, the gum was found to be soluble in cold and hot water but insoluble in organic solvent and exhibited a shear thickening viscosity profile and excellent flow properties with excellent compressibility. The granules prepared with the gum of Acacia etbaica and reference binders showed good particle size distribution and excellent flow and compressibility properties. All the prepared tablets passed pharmacopeial specifications with respect to their uniformity of weight, thickness, and disintegration time. Tablets formulated with Acacia etbaica gum and acacia BP meet the compendial specification for friability at binder concentrations more than 2%. Drug release properties of all the batches formulated with Acacia etbaica, PVP, and acacia BP complied with the pharmacopeial specification. It can be concluded that the gum of Acacia etbaica could be explored as an alternative excipient for its binder effect in granule and tablet formulations.
Highlights
IntroductionGums are used as pharmaceutical excipients such as binding agents in tablet formulation
Gums are pathological products formed following injury to the plant or due to unfavorable conditions such as drought and breakdown of cell walls [1].Gums are used as pharmaceutical excipients such as binding agents in tablet formulation
The moisture content and total ash values of Acacia etbaica gum were 12 ± 0:28% and 3 ± 0:70%, respectively, which is within the pharmacopeial specification
Summary
Gums are used as pharmaceutical excipients such as binding agents in tablet formulation. Binding agents are useful in achieving various tablet mechanical strength and drug release properties for different pharmaceutical purposes [2, 3]. In Ethiopia, more than 40 indigenous species of the genus Acacia have been identified, and about 17 of them are gum and gum resins bearing species. Most of the gum and resin bearing are naturally grown under arid, warm, and rugged topographic conditions in almost all regions of Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Gambella, Somalia, Benshangul, Southern Region, and Afar in order of decreasing production area. Acacia etbaica is a member of Fabaceae family. It is a tree or shrub of 2.5-12 m tall ([4,5,6])
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