Preliminary investigation into the use of lima bean (<i>Phaseolus lunatus</i>) starch as a tablet disintegrant

Abstract

The disintegrant efficiency of starch obtained from Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) was evaluated. The starch from the seeds was extracted and its disintegrant ability was compared with that of maize starch BP in paracetamol based tablets at concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 %w/w. The following properties of the starch powders were evaluated; organoleptic properties, microscopy and reaction with iodine solution, bulk and tapped density, Hausner’s ratio and Carr’s compressibility index. Paracetamol tablets formulated were evaluated for uniformity of weight, dimensions, hardness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution rate. The paracetamol granules and tablets formulated with 0 – 10 %w/w Phaseolus lunatus starch as disintegrant were comparable in granule flow properties, tablet weight variation and hardness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution rate with the granules and tablets prepared with maize starch B.P. At an optimum concentration of 10 %w/w, Phaseolus lunatus starch tablets, with a shorter disintegration time of 2.43 min, performed better than that of maize starch BP with a time of 4.55 min. The study revealed that Phaseolus lunatus starch can be used as a disintegrant in the production of tablets of acceptable pharmaceutical quality and at its optimum concentration, can be used as a suitable substitute for maize starch as a disintegrant in the formulation of paracetamol tablets.

Keywords: Paracetamol tablets, Wet granulation, Phaseolus lunatus starch, Disintegrant efficiency