EFFECT OF GRANULE SIZE, COMPACTION PRESSURE AND CONCENTRATION OF MALVA VERTICILLATA MUCILAGE ON THE IN VITRO PROPERTIES OF TABLETS

Objective: To evaluate the effect of binder concentration, granule size and distance between punches on mechanical strength and drug release properties of tablets containing Malva verticillata mucilage (MVM) as a binder.Methods: Paracetamol and lactose were converted into wet coherent masses by a liquid solution containing 1-3% w/w MVM as a binder. Granules containing 2% w/w binder was used to investigate the effect of granule size and distance between punches. Compressed tablets were evaluated for crushing strength, disintegration time and in vitro drug release using pharmacopeial methods.Results: Granules containing MVM were found to be free-flowing and compatible with paracetamol. Mechanical strength and drug release properties of mucilage tablets significantly correlated with the amount of MVM binder. Tablet crushing strength was 3.54-7.12 kg/cm2 while disintegration time 7.13-16.67 min. Compression pressure and granule size had no significant effects on drug release properties of mucilage tablets. Crushing strength of mucilage tablets were higher and significantly different (t(26) = 7.9631, p<0.05) from acacia tablets in the tested variables. The cumulative drug release rate of mucilage tablets was also lower than that of acacia tablets in tested concentrations.Conclusion: Properties of tablets containing 2.5% w/w MVM matched the prescribed pharmaceutical limits and hence M. verticillata root mucilage has a great potential to become a new source of tablet binder.