Neem Gum as an Alternative to Synthetic Pharmaceutical Excipients

[摘要] Background: Use of natural excipients benefits the national economy by delivering low-cost formulations and utilising locally available resources. The current study aimed to determine the ability of neem gum to serve as a binding and suspending agent as an alternative to synthetic excipients.Objective: To prepare aceclofenac tablets and suspension by using locally available neem gum and to investigate the effect of neem gum on aceclofenac release from tablets and suspension.Methodology: Aceclofenac tablets were prepared by wet granulation method containing mannitol as diluent, using neem gum as a binding agent in concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% w/w and 7.5% w/w of PVP as reference binding agent in the tablet formulation. In preparation of aceclofenac suspensions, neem gum at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% w/v were selected to function as suspending agent and the reference suspending agent used was 1.5% w/v of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC).  Results: Investigation by the FT-IR spectroscopy and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that there were no chemical interactions between aceclofenac and neem gum. Prepared aceclofenac granules were evaluated and found satisfactory results for Carr’s index (9.14 -12.63), angle of repose (26.72 - 28.32°) and Haunser’s ratio (1.09 - 1.13). The corresponding tablets showed remarkable values for friability (0.45 - 0.86 %), disintegration time (243 - 321 sec) and hardness (3.24 - 5.94 kg/cm2). Aceclofenac suspension exhibited appropriate sedimentation volume (64 – 100%), redispersibility (1 - 3 strokes), pH (5.32 - 6.27), degree of flocculation (1.06 - 1.15).Conclusion: As the concentration of neem gum in the formulation increased, the rate of drug release slowed. Neem gum revealed a significant ability to bind granules in aceclofenac tablets at 10% w/w and a good suspending capacity in aceclofenac suspension at 2% w/v. Background: Use of natural excipients benefits the national economy by delivering low-cost formulations and utilising locally available resources. The current study aimed to determine the ability of neem gum to serve as a binding and suspending agent as an alternative to synthetic excipients.Objective: To prepare aceclofenac tablets and suspension by using locally available neem gum and to investigate the effect of neem gum on aceclofenac release from tablets and suspension.Methodology: Aceclofenac tablets were prepared by wet granulation method containing mannitol as diluent, using neem gum as a binding agent in concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% w/w and 7.5% w/w of PVP as reference binding agent in the tablet formulation. In preparation of aceclofenac suspensions, neem gum at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% w/v were selected to function as suspending agent and the reference suspending agent used was 1.5% w/v of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC).  Results: Investigation by the FT-IR spectroscopy and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that there were no chemical interactions between aceclofenac and neem gum. Prepared aceclofenac granules were evaluated and found satisfactory results for Carr’s index (9.14 -12.63), angle of repose (26.72 - 28.32°) and Haunser’s ratio (1.09 - 1.13). The corresponding tablets showed remarkable values for friability (0.45 - 0.86 %), disintegration time (243 - 321 sec) and hardness (3.24 - 5.94 kg/cm2). Aceclofenac suspension exhibited appropriate sedimentation volume (64 – 100%), redispersibility (1 - 3 strokes), pH (5.32 - 6.27), degree of flocculation (1.06 - 1.15).Conclusion: As the concentration of neem gum in the formulation increased, the rate of drug release slowed. Neem gum revealed a significant ability to bind granules in aceclofenac tablets at 10% w/w and a good suspending capacity in aceclofenac suspension at 2% w/v.

[学科分类] 药学、药理学、毒理学（综合）

[关键词] Aceclofenac;Neem gum;FTIR;DSC;SEM