APPLICATIONS, ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FENUGREEK SEED GUM AS PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT

Ajay Kumar Shukla*, Ajay Yadav, Ravi Kant Vishwakarma, Santosh Kumar Mishra

ITM College of Technology and Management GIDA, Gorakhpur, India

ABSTRACT

Fenugreek seed gum (FSG) is a polysaccharide having galactomannans as chemical constituents, and it is isolated from the seeds of Trigonellafoenum guaiacum (Family Leguminosae). Generally, polysaccharides play vital roles such as emulsifying, hydrating, thickening, gelling, and suspending agents in the pharmaceutical formulations. The objective of this research work was to investigate the film coating potential of FSG, using paracetamol as a model drug. Aqueous coating solution consists of 2% FSG hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) (2% w/v), and sodium alginate (1% w/v) were prepared and used to coat the tablets by dip coating technique. The coated tablets showed lower friability; increased disintegration time (14 min) as compared to the core tablet (3 min), with improved hardness, and drug release profile. FSG film coated batches showed drug release profile up to 8 hrs and HPMC coated batches showed drug release up to 12 hrs. The results of drug release rate of FSG film is very closed to HPMC release profile. Thus FSG have good film formers properties. FSG is a promising natural, biodegradable, economical and eco-friendly film former, mainly when masking of taste or objectionable odor in a solid dosage formulation is desired. It can be used as carrier in sustained release formulation.

Keywords:

Pharmaceutical Excipient, Natural Polymer, Tamarind seed gum