PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF BINDING PROPERTIES OF RANDIA DUMETORUM FRUIT MUCILAGE.

The basic aim of present work was to extract the mucilage from Randia dumetorum fruit by using suitable method and to check its suitability for tablet binder. The mucilage was extracted from fruit powder bymaceration technique using water and then precipitated with alcohol in 1:2 proportion (yield 8-9 % w/w).The physicochemical properties of mucilage like moisture content, solubility, density, viscosity, pH,surface tension, swelling index, water absorption capacity and microbial load were determined. The granules were prepared by Wet Granulation technique using Paracetamol as Model drug and mucilage asbinder in concentrations 1-5 % w/w. Then tablets were punched by keeping pressure constant. The granules and tablets were evaluated as per official procedures. In vitro dissolution profiles of tablets werecarried out in Phosphate Buffer pH 5.8. All parameters were compared with standards like acacia (1-5% w/w) and starch (6, 8, 10%w/w). The evaluation data suggested that tablets prepared with Randiadumetorum fruit mucilage as binder showed good results and comparable dissolution profile as that of standards. Also the results were complied with pharmacopoeial limits. Hence, the mucilage from Randiadumetorum fruit can act as suitable binder for conventional tablets instead of synthetic polymers.