Studies on Fruit Pectin in the Development of Tablet Formulations of Ibuprofen

Background: Pectin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide is more than a food additive and has got amazing properties as a gelling agent and as a binder. Objective: The current research entails the extraction and identification of pectin from peels of selected fruits mango (Magnifera indica) and banana (Musa paradisiaca) by direct heating and using alcohol as precipitating agent. The potential of pectin as a binding agent in tablet formulation was evaluated by screening its micromeritics and post compression properties. Method: quadruple formulations of ibuprofen with crude peel pectin extracted from mango and banana in concentration of 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg respectively were employed in the tablet manufacture process by wet granulation method. Results: Successful formulation of tablet was done with the extracted pectin from the two fruit peels. The micromeritics properties showed good binding and flowing properties. An increase in concentration of pectin increased the hardness and also the dissolution of tablets up to a certain extent. The disintegration time was suitable for all formulations. Conclusion: It was concluded that pectin extracted from mango and banana peels can be used as a super disintegrating agent in pharmaceutical formulations, where needed.

Evaluation of xerogels of cassava and cocoyam starches as dry granulation binders and disintegrants in directly compressed paracetamol tablet formulations

The physicochemical properties of excipients play vital roles in the process of tablet manufacture. A comparative evaluation of the binding and disintegrant properties of xerogels of cassava and cocoyam starches with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in paracetamol tablet formulations was investigated. Cassava and cocoyam starches were extracted from their tubers following standard procedures. Xerogels of both starches were prepared and used to prepare batches of paracetamol granules for direct compression into tablets at concentrations of 3.8, 7.6 and 11.4 %w/w and with 7.6 %w/w MCC for comparison. Granules were analysed for their flow properties and drug-excipient compatibility and the tablets were evaluated for their tablets properties. The paracetamol granules prepared with the xerogel powders were comparable in flow properties with those made with MCC. Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared analyses revealed no interaction between the xerogel powders and paracetamol. Increase in concentrations of the xerogel powders led to an increase in hardness, wetting time, water sorption, disintegration time, drug release and a decrease in friability of the tablets. Tablets formulated with the starch xerogel powders met compendial requirements at 7.6 %w/w concentration. The study confirms the potentials of xerogels of cassava and cocoyam starches as dry granulation binders/disintegrants. Tablets made with the xerogel powders are superior to those made with MCC in terms of disintegration time but MCC produces harder and less friable tablets, as a superior binder.