Screening and optimization of an aqueous based natural polymer

Abstract

The recent study includes the extraction and characterization of tamarind gum, Tamarindus indica from Tamarind seeds which is used in the pharmaceutical, textile and food industries as a mucoadhesive polymer. It belongs to a Leguminosae family. Aim of the present work is to establish that the Tamarind gum use as a natural polymer. Water based extraction procedure was used to extract polysaccharide from tamarind seed. For characterization of extracted gum, different Pharmacopoeial methods like micromeritic properties, solubility, DSC, FTIR, organoleptic properties and pH is studied. The extracted gum is insoluble in organic solvents like ethanol, acetone, methanol, ether etc as well as cold water which formed the basis of separation and procurement of the gum. It is only soluble in hot water. It yields a highly viscous colloidal solution at temperature above 850 C. It is also found that extracted tamarind gum has good flow properties and pH is 6.6. The tamarind seed polysaccharide is a pH sensitive polymer which being activated only in basic pH. It can be concluded from the whole study and their evaluation that tamarind seed polysaccharide can be an important pharmaceutical excipient which can be used in solid dosage form without any irritation. Obtained results also showed that extracted seed polysaccharide may be used as natural gelling agents in different pharmaceutical formulations. Future works will focus on the quantitative analysis, biological activity and possible use of Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide as a drug delivery system.