Abstract

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE BINDING/DISINTEGRATING PROPERTIES OF PLECTRANTHUS ESCULENTUS STARCH

*Kemas, U.C., Nep, E.I., Ochekpe, N.A.

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos-Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

The binding and disintegrating property of starch from tubers of Plectranthus esculentus was evaluated in chloroquine phosphate tablets at a use level of 5 %. This was compared with similar tablets formulated with maize or cassava starches as binder and disintegrant. The flow properties of the starch powder and granules formulated by wet granulation were evaluated. Tablets were compressed on a single station tabletting machine. Thereupon, tablet properties such as hardness friability and disintegration time of the tablets were evaluated. The starch powders exhibited flow parameters which were not satisfactory, but these were improved by wet granulation. All tablets passed the weight uniformity test. Tablets formulated using P. esculentus starch as binder gave a hardness value (7.33±0.5 KgF) lower than tablets formulated with maize or cassava starch as binder. All tablets had low friability values of less than 1% and tablets formulated with P. esculentus starch as binder were more rapidly disintegrating than the tablets formulated using maize or cassava starch as binder. The results from the Invitro drug release study however suggests that maize starch is preferable to P.esculentus starch when starch binders are indicated in solid dosage formulation. P.esculentus starch is also preferred to cassava starch in terms of disintegrating function.

Keywords: P. esculentus starch, disintegrant property, binder property, tablet formulation, chloroquine.