Evaluation of the binding and disintegrating properties of gum obtained from the stem bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Louisa C. Sarkodie; Philomena  Entsie; Mariam E. Boakye-Gyasi; Frederick W.A.  Owusu; Marcel T. Bayor; Kwabena Ofori-Kwakye

doi:10.17159/sajs.2021/11550

Authors

Louisa C. Sarkodie Department of Pharmaceutics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5664-4513
Philomena Entsie Department of Herbal Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4858-8339
Mariam E. Boakye-Gyasi Department of Pharmaceutics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8879-230X
Frederick W.A. Owusu Department of Pharmaceutics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2674-6217
Marcel T. Bayor Department of Pharmaceutics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4170-1140
Kwabena Ofori-Kwakye Department of Pharmaceutics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4298-0820

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2021/11550

Keywords:

natural excipients, Cinnamomum zeylanicum gum, binder, disintegrant, paracetamol tablets

Abstract

Excipients are the various ingredients, apart from the active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are added to pharmaceutical formulations. Excipients obtained from natural sources are preferred over those from synthetic sources because they are cheap, biocompatible and readily available. Gums are made up of carbohydrate units which are linked by glycosidic bonds. This study was aimed at evaluating the potential binding and disintegrating properties of gum obtained from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which was obtained from Effiduase in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The gum was extracted using 96% ethanol and the moisture content, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, water holding capacity, swelling index and flow properties of the gum were determined. The gum was used to formulate tablets at different concentrations (10% w/v, 15% w/v and 20% w/v) as binder with acacia as the standard. The gum was also used to formulate tablets at different concentrations (5% w/v, 7.5% w/v and 10% w/v) as disintegrant with starch as the standard. Quality control tests were then conducted on all formulated tablets. The gum exhibited good flow and physicochemical properties. All formulated tablets passed the uniformity of weight test, friability test, disintegration test, hardness test, uniformity of dimensions test and drug content. All batches of tablets, except Batch 7, passed the dissolution test. Based on the study carried out, C. zeylanicum gum can be used as an alternative excipient to acacia and starch as a binder and a disintegrant, respectively.

Significance:

A natural polysaccharide (gum) from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree can be harnessed and commodified as a pharmaceutical excipient (binder and disintegrant) in the production of immediate release tablets.