Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Deparmtent of Chemistry, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
2
2 Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
3
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
4
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Jos, Nigeria.
5
Slovenia NMR Centre, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
10.12785/jpac/020101
Abstract
Recently, the development and utilization of polysaccharides isolated from natural sources have attracted increasing attention in biochemistry, pharmaceautical and food chemistry due to their sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. Sweitenia mycrophylla gum tree is a plant growing naturally in the Nigeria forests unnoticed and unutilized. This gum is yet to be commercially exploited as the physicochemical properties of this gum are yet to be characterized. Due to advances in drug delivery technology, natural excipients are included in novel dosage form to fufil specific function. The present study sought to characterize and utilize Sweitenia gum (S.mycrophylla) as excipient in drug formulation. The acute toxicity test of the native gum on albino mice was determined using Lorkes method followed by histopathological study. Physicochemical properties such as moisture content, Ash content, Protein, pH, Viscosity, Refractive index, water holding capacity, Specific rotation, swelling index and emulsifying capacity were also evaluated using standard methods (AOAC). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powdered diffractometry (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and 1D and 2D Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to characterized the native gum. The results of this research indicate that the LD50 of the gum in mice is greater than 5000mg/kg and the histopathological results shows no pathological lession on the organs tested. Physicochemical parameters shows moisture content to be 5.70±0.15%, Ash content 6.8±0.52%, Protein 1.43±0.51%, pH 7.80±0.5 viscosity 28.40±0.30, refractive index 1.34±0.01, water holding capacity 67.20±0.28%, specific rotation -420, swelling index 15.20±0.40 and emulsifying capacity 43.60±0.25%. SEM analysis suggests that the native gum has irregular particle size and the XRD pattern of the native gum indicate a completely armor lphous structure. FTIR spectrum showed band characteristics of O-H (3650-3500 cm-1), C-O-C (1632 cm-1), -COO (1429 cm-1) groups. NMR spectroscopy (1D and 2D) indicate that the gum is a galactomannan type polysaccharide with mannose/galactose ratio of 2:1. The gum granules possessed good flow properties with Hausner ratio of 1.10 to 1.30 and Carr’s index of 9.0 to 23.0%. Tablets prepared with 4-8% w/w gum had hardness ≥4kg while tablets prepared with 6-8% w/w binders had friability of <1% comparable to that prepared with 4% (w/w) gelatin BP. The disintegration time of the tablet was <15 min. The tablets had fast dissolution in aqueous media with >94% drug dissolution in 45 min.
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