Main Article Content
Evaluation of the Binding Effect of Local Gum of <i>Boswellia papyrifera</i> in Paracetamol Granules and Tablet Formulations
Abstract
Boswellia papyrifera is one of the chief gum resin producing tree species in Ethiopia. Frankincense harvested from it is the most widely traded one. Frankincense is used for a variety of purposes from traditional medicine to industries such as pharmaceutical, perfume and food industries. In this work, B. papyrifera gum has been evaluated for its binding effect in paracetamol granules and tablet formulations in comparison with the commonly used binders, Acacia BP and PVP K-30. Some physicochemical properties of the extracted gum indicated that the gum exhibited solubility in water, absence of tannin and slightly acidic pH. The loss on drying and ash value were well within the official limits. Paracetamol granules were prepared using different proportions of B. papyrifera gum (BPA), Acacia BP (ACA) and PVP K-30 by wet granulation method. The granules prepared with the binders exhibited optimum moisture content, good flow properties
and compressibility. Percent of fines decreased with increasing binder concentration. Increase in binder concentration led to an increase in crushing strength, decrease in friability and increase in disintegration time of the tablets which were observed in all the three binders. Paracetamol tablets prepared with 2% w/w of BPA and ACA failed to comply with the specification for the friability test (> 1%). All concentrations of PVP and 2 to 6% w/w concentrations of ACA and BPA met the BP specification for disintegration. At 2% w/w to 6% w/w binder levels, there were no significant differences in the extent of drug release among the binders in 30 min. All the batches of ACA, BPA and PVP, except at 8% of BPA, complied with the
specification which states that the quantity of drug released should not be less than 80% of the labeled amount of paracetamol in 30 min. From the foregoing, it can be concluded that the gum extract of B. papyrifera oleo-gum resin could be explored as an alternative excipient for its binder effect in granule and tablet formulations.
Keywords: Boswellia papyrifera, natural gum, paracetamol, wet granulation, tablet binder
and compressibility. Percent of fines decreased with increasing binder concentration. Increase in binder concentration led to an increase in crushing strength, decrease in friability and increase in disintegration time of the tablets which were observed in all the three binders. Paracetamol tablets prepared with 2% w/w of BPA and ACA failed to comply with the specification for the friability test (> 1%). All concentrations of PVP and 2 to 6% w/w concentrations of ACA and BPA met the BP specification for disintegration. At 2% w/w to 6% w/w binder levels, there were no significant differences in the extent of drug release among the binders in 30 min. All the batches of ACA, BPA and PVP, except at 8% of BPA, complied with the
specification which states that the quantity of drug released should not be less than 80% of the labeled amount of paracetamol in 30 min. From the foregoing, it can be concluded that the gum extract of B. papyrifera oleo-gum resin could be explored as an alternative excipient for its binder effect in granule and tablet formulations.
Keywords: Boswellia papyrifera, natural gum, paracetamol, wet granulation, tablet binder
