Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Dissolution and permeation characteristics of artemether tablets formulated with two gums of different surface activity

Emmanuel O Olorunsola^1,2 , Partap G Bhatia³, Babajide A Tytler², Musiliu O Adedokun¹, Michael U Adikwu¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Uyo, Uyo; ²Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; ³Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; ⁴Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

For correspondence:- Emmanuel Olorunsola Email: olorunsolaeo@yahoo.com Tel:+2348035067306

Received: 17 January 2017 Accepted: 19 April 2017 Published: 29 May 2017

Citation: Olorunsola EO, Bhatia PG, Tytler BA, Adedokun MO, Adikwu MU. Dissolution and permeation characteristics of artemether tablets formulated with two gums of different surface activity. Trop J Pharm Res 2017; 16(5):981-988 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v16i5.3

© 2017 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the dissolution and permeation characteristics of artemether tablets formulated with cashew and prosopis gums, and compare with tablets prepared with acacia gum.

Methods: Artemether tablets containing varying concentrations (1.0 to 4.0 %w/w) of cashew and prosopis gums or 3 %w/w of acacia (control) gum as binders were formulated by wet granulation method. The tablets were evaluated for crushing strength, friability and disintegration time. Dissolution and permeation characteristics of the formulations were studied using USP methods.

Results: Tablets formulated with prosopis gum had higher crushing strength, higher friability and higher disintegration time compared to those of cashew gum at corresponding binder concentrations. Tablets formulated with 3 %w/w cashew gum exhibited complete drug release within 1 h, 95 % drug permeation in 188 min (in simulated gastric fluid [SGF]) and 95 % permeation in 224 min (under simulated intestinal fluid [SIF] condition) while those made with 3 %w/w prosopis gum exhibited 70.7 % drug release in 1 h, 95 % permeation in 135 min (in SGF) and 95 % permeation in 170 min (under SIF condition).

Conclusion: Cashew gum is effective as a binder over a relatively wide range of concentrations to achieve fast drug release though with minimal permeation enhancement while prosopis gum is characterized by delayed drug release but enhanced permeation of the released drug

Keywords: Cashew gum, Acacia, Prosopis, Artemether, Drug release, Dissolution, Permeation