Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, PO Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia
Gebresamuel, N., Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, PO Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Gebre-Mariam, T., Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Some excipients are currently available for the formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions. The purpose of this study is to develop cheap and effective natural excipient that can be used as an effective alternative for the formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions. The suspending properties of Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia stricta mucilages (family Cactaceae) were evaluated comparatively with that of NaCMC at concentration range of 2-6% (w/v) in Paracetamol suspension. Sedimentation volume (%) (with and without electrolyte), rheology, redispersibility, and dissolution rate of the suspensions were employed as evaluation parameters. The values obtained were used as basis for comparison of the suspending agents. The apparent viscosities of the suspensions in all the suspending agents concentration levels and applied shear rates were in the order of NaCMC>OS>OFI with non-Newtonian flow and accordingly the flow rates of the suspensions were in the order of OFI>OS>NaCMC. The sedimentation volumes (%) of the suspensions in all the suspending agent concentration levels were higher for OS followed by OFI and then NaCMC. The high sedimentation volumes (%) of suspensions, in turn, were accompanied by ease of redispersibility of that order. The effect of electrolyte on sedimentation volume (%) had dual effect. It was only the suspensions that had NaCMC that showed increase in sedimentation volume (%) in all molar NaCl concentration. However, in suspensions that had mucilages of OS and OFI, an initial increase in sediment volumes (%) were accompanied by decrease after 1×10 -3M and 1×10-2M of NaCl, respectively. Dissolution of the suspensions which had mucilages attained the acceptable ranges (≥ 80% drug release in 30 min) in 5 min. Similarly, except A6 formulations A2, A3, A4 and A5 have attained the limit but the release was not as quick as the previous formulations. Hence, it can be concluded that mucilages of Opuntia spp. (Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia stricta) can be used as alternatives to NaCMC as suspending agent in suspension formulations.
paracetamol; sodium chloride; article; chemical composition; concentration (parameters); dispersion; drug formulation; drug release; drug solubility; flow kinetics; flow rate; mucilage; Opuntia; Opuntia ficus indica; Opuntia stricta; sedimentation; shear rate; suspension; viscosity; Acetaminophen; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Excipients; Flocculation; Kinetics; Models, Chemical; Opuntia; Pharmaceutical Solutions; Plant Mucilage; Rheology; Sodium Chloride; Solubility; Technology, Pharmaceutical; Viscosity