Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Grewia Gum 2: Mucoadhesive Properties of Compacts and Gels

Elijah I Nep^1,2 , Barbara R Conway^1,3

¹Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom; ²Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharm. Technology, University of Jos, Nigeria; ³Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, United Kingdom.

For correspondence:- Elijah Nep Email: nepeli2000@yahoo.com Tel:+2348166116714

Received: 30 October 2010 Accepted: 10 June 2011 Published: 20 August 2011

Citation: Nep EI, Conway BR. Grewia Gum 2: Mucoadhesive Properties of Compacts and Gels. Trop J Pharm Res 2011; 10(4):393-401 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v10i4.4

© 2011 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To compare the mucoadhesive performance of grewia polysaccharide gum with those of guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and carbopol 971P.

Methods: Grewia polysaccharide gum compacts or gels as well as those of guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or carbopol 971P were prepared. Texturometric and tensile analysis of the polymer gels and compacts were carried out using a software-controlled penetrometre, TA.XTPlus texture analyzer. The polymer gels were evaluated for hardness, stickiness, work of cohesion and work of adhesion. Furthermore, the detachment force of the polymer compacts from a mucin substrate was evaluated.

Results: The work of adhesion of guar gels was significantly greater than that of grewia gels (p < 0.001) but the latter showed a significantly greater work of adhesion than carboxymethylcellulose gels (p < 0.05) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose gels (p < 0.001). However, the work of cohesion for grewia/mucin gel mixture was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than those of carboxymethylcellulose/mucin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose/mucin and carbopol 971P/mucin gel blends. The difference between the mucoadhesive performance of grewia compacts and those of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and carbopol 971P compacts was insignificant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Grewia polysaccharide gum demonstrated good mucoadhesive properties, comparable to those of carbopol 971P, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and therefore, should be suitable for the formulation of retentive drug delivery devices.

Keywords: Grewia polysaccharide gum, Texture analyzer, Mucoadhesive performance, Work of cohesion/adhesion