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Adeleke Ibukun O*, Okafor Ignatius S
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
A B S T R A C T
The objective of this study is to prepare and characterize caesalpinia gum-annealed maize starch co-processed excipient and to evaluate its application as a directly compressible vehicle in tablet formulations. The co-processed excipient was prepared by solvent evaporation method and characterized by the bulk and tapped densities, angle of repose, compressibility index, particle size and shape. The compatibility of the co-processed excipient with ascorbic acid and metronidazole was studied by FTIR spectroscopy. These drugs were formulated by direct compression with the co-processed excipient used as the only filler-binder-disintegrant. The physical properties of the tablets were evaluated by suitable techniques. Microcrystalline cellulose was used as basis for comparison of the directly compressible properties of the co-processed excipient. The co-processed excipient was obtained as a free-flowing, granular powder. It was found to be compatible with the drugs. The mechanical properties of both ascorbic acid and metronidazole tablets made with the co-processed excipient are superior to those containing microcrystalline cellulose. All the tablets formulated with the co-processed excipient disintegrated within the time limit for immediate release tablets. The tablets made with the novel co-process technique met pharmacopoeial requirements for weight uniformity and content of active ingredient. On the basis of these, the co-processed excipient possesses a promising potential as a directly compressible vehicle for low and medium dose drugs.
Keywords: Co-processed excipient, Directly compressible excipient, Ascorbic acid, Metronidazole
