Abstract

EVALUATION OF MURRAYA KOENIGII AS A NATURAL PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT IN THE FORMULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EFFERVESCENT ANTACID TABLETS FOR ACIDITY AND INDIGESTION

Ankit Pandey, Piyush Pankaj*

ABSTRACT

Background: Acidity and indigestion are among the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders globally, affecting nearly 20–30% of the general population. Conventional antacid formulations, while effective, often suffer from poor patient compliance, slow onset of action, and reliance on synthetic excipients with adverse profiles. Effervescent tablet technology offers rapid drug dissolution and improved palatability, making it a compelling delivery system for antacid formulations. Objective: This review evaluates the potential of Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) as a natural pharmaceutical excipient — specifically as a binder, disintegrant, and mucoadhesive agent — in the formulation of effervescent antacid tablets. Methods: A systematic review of literature published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus,and Google Scholar databases. Studies on phytochemical profiling, physicochemical characterization, excipient functionality, and antacid formulation were included. Results: M. koenigii leaf mucilage demonstrated acceptable viscosity (180–420 cP), swelling index (85–120%), and moisture content (8.2–10.4%). It exhibited concentration-dependent binding efficacy and disintegration facilitation. Phytoconstituents including carbazole alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols conferred additional antacid, anti-ulcer, and carminative properties. Effervescent antacid tablets formulated with M. koenigii mucilage (10–15% w/w) demonstrated pH neutralization capacity of 4.2–6.8 from baseline gastric pH of 1.2, with disintegration times of 55–90 seconds. Conclusion: M. koenigii represents a promising, multifunctional natural excipient with inherent pharmacological activity. Integration into effervescent antacid formulations may provide synergistic therapeutic benefits while aligning with the global shift toward green pharmaceuticals. Future randomized clinical trials and regulatory toxicological studies are warranted.

Keywords: Murraya koenigii; curry leaf extract; natural excipient; effervescent tablets; antacid; acidity; indigestion; pharmaceutical formulation; mucilage; disintegrant.