The extraction and investigation of polysaccharide mucilages for use as excipients in drug delivery systems and their application for developing floating tablets of silymarin.

Abstract

In the present investigation, polysaccharide mucilages were extracted from the fruits of Coccinia grandis (CG), the leaves from Rumex vesicarius, the seeds from Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek (FG)) and rhizomes from Colocasia esculenta (CE) using a solvent precipitation method and their physicochemical properties were evaluated for their in-vitro buoyancy and in-vitro drug release study by developing silymarin loaded floating tablets. The percentage yield of the extracted mucilages for CG, RV, CE and FG were 7.7±0.5, 6.5±0.50, 13.0±0.50 and 16±1.50 respectively. The results from Carr’s Index (CI) were 18.91±1.40, 13.71±2.00, 14.41±1.5, 13.15±1.80, 35.55±1.23 and 10±0.91 for CG, RV, CE, FG, Guar Gum and HPMC K4M respectively. The FTIR spectra showed the presence of strong band stretching between the ranges of 3324 cm −1 and 576 cm −1 . The difractograms of extracted mucilages indicated that RV, CE and FG are crystalline polysaccharide mucilages, whereas CG exhibited a straight line. The LD 50 value for orally administered CG, RV CE and FG was ≥ 2000 mg/kg. The Floating lag time (sec) for formulations F1-F5 was 120±13, 160±10, 180±16, 60±4 and 60±4 respectively. Further, In-vitro drug results were in the range of 86-100% for the floating tablets of silymarin (F1-F5). Based on the results it can be concluded that the CG, RV CE and FG could be suitable macromolecules for developing floating tablets and could be considered novel hydrocolloids for use in Industrial Pharmacy.