ABSTRACT
Background of study: Binders are incorporated into solid dosage to impact cohesion to pharmaceutical powders and enhance compressibility and flow properties of granules.
Aim: The aim of this study was to extract and characterize Mucuna sloanei seed gum as a binder in the formulation of paracetamol tablet.
Methods: Mucuna sloanei seeds were dehauled, pulverized and macerated in absolute ethanol for 24 hours to decolourize the powdered seed for extraction of the gum., defatted with n- hexane, disperse in distilled water, filtered with mucillin bag, precipitated with absolute ethanol, re-dispersed in water, re-precipitated and dried in hot air oven at 40°C for 4 hours, powdered and stored in air tight container prior to use. The physicochemical properties of the gum were evaluated. These include solubility, pH, swelling index, chemical test, percentage yield, viscosity and organoleptic properties, The mucuna seed gum was used to formulate paracetamol tablet at varing concentrations (5-25%) in comparison with maize starch as standard. Granules were evaluated for flow properties and tableting characteristics which include hardness, disintegration, friability, and dissolution profile.
Results: The percentage yield was 22.72 %± 1.5and contained some phytochemical components such as tannin, alkaloid and saponin. It has a pH of 5.80 ± 0.3. The mucilage displayed a concentration dependent viscosity ranging from 3.108 Ns/m2± 0.60 and 83.27 ± 0.98 at 5-25% gum concentration. This was compared with maize starch at similar concentration. It is partially soluble in water at room temperature, hot water, 0.9% saline, but insoluble in organic solvents. The granules showed a good flow properties at varying concentrations employed with hausner ratio of 1.16± 0.71 and angle of repose of 34.25± 0.5 at 5%w/w while at 25%w/w had passible flow property.The disintegration time was high (95.5 minutes at 5%w/w and 203.61 minutes at 25%w/w) but paracetamol formulated with maize starch mucilage the disintegration time was short (0.53 minutes at 5%w/w & 2.35 minutes at 20%w/w). There was delay in the release of paracetamol in all batches formulated with the gum compare to tablet formulated with maize mucilage at equivalent concentration. At 10 minutes 156.67mg (31.33%) and decreased to 75.5mg (15.1%) at concentration of 25%w/w. At 60 minutes the drug release increased to 346.67mg (69.33%) but in maize starch, 420mg (84%) was released at 10 minutes at concentration of 5%w/w and decreases as the concentration increases.
Conclusion: Maize starch is a better tablet binder with respect to rheological properties/flow properties, friability and hardness at the same compressional force than Macuna sloanei gum. Drug intended for delay release can be formulated with mucuna sloanei gum since % drug release was delayed in all batches compare to maize starch at equivalent concentration.
Key words: Mucuna slonei gum, Binder, Tablet & Paracetamol.
