EVALUATION OF SUSPENDING PROPERTIES OF AFZELIA AFRICANA GUM IN PARACETAMOL LIQUID FORMULATION
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 8(1): 09-14; June/July 2016
ABSTRACT
Advances in drug delivery have stimulated the discovery of excipients which are safe, useful and economical. In this research, Afzelia africana gum was evaluated for its suspending properties in paracetamol liquid formulations. The pH of 1% w/v gum dispersion and viscosity of 1, 2, 3 and 4% w/v gum dispersions were determined. Paracetamol suspensions were prepared using the test gum and acacia gum (as reference suspending agent) at the concentrations used for viscosity determination. The preparations were assessed for sedimentation volume, flow property and redispersibility. Afzelia gum had a higher pH, and the viscosity of its dispersions was over twenty five times that of acacia gum. Suspensions containing afzelia gum had higher sedimentation volume, lower flow rate and poorer redispersibility compared to those containing similar concentrations of acacia gum. The gum was found to be 2 to 3 times better than acacia gum in terms of suspendability but slightly lower in terms of redispersibility. Concentration of 2% w/v afzelia gum is the optimal for acceptable paracetamol suspension. The gum is a good alternative to standard acacia gum.
*Corresponding Author: olorunsolaeo@yahoo.com