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This study was aimed at developing a pharmaceutical grade microcrystalline cellulose from coconut fruit husk fibre as a tablet excipient. The microcrystalline cellulose coded CH-MCC, was obtained from coconut (Cocos nucifera) fruit husk fibre by a two-stage sodium hydroxide delignification process followed by sodium hypochlorite bleaching and acid hydrolysis. CH-MCC was examined for its physicochemical and powder properties. The powder properties of CH-MCC were compared to those of best commercial microcrystalline cellulose grade, Avicel PH 101. The extraction yield of CH-MCC was approximately 19%. The cellulose material was composed of irregularly shaped fibrous cellulose particle with a moisture content of 6.2%. The true density was 1.53. The flow indices showed that CH-MCC flowed poorly. The hydration and swelling capacities were 3.15 and 48.6% respectively. The study revealed that the cellulose material compares favourably with Avicel PH 101 as well as official requirement specified in the British Pharmacopoeia 1993 for microcrystalline cellulose. Keywords: Coconut fruit fibre, microcrystalline cellulose, powder properties Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources Vol. 3 (1) 2006: pp. 12-18

This study was aimed at developing pharmaceutical grade microcrystalline cellulose from Chasmanthera dependens stem phloem fibres as a tablet excipient. The microcrystalline cellulose coded CD-MCC, was obtained from the phloem fibres by a two-stage sodium hydroxide delignification process followed by sodium hypochlorite bleaching and acid hydrolysis. CD-MCC was examined for its physicochemical and powder properties. The powder properties of CD-MCC were compared to those of best commercial microcrystalline cellulose grade, Avicel PH 101. The extraction yield of CD-MCC was about 17%. The cellulose material was composed of irregularly shaped fibrous cellulose particle with a moisture content of 4.8%. The true density was 1.66. The flow indices showed that CD-MCC flowed poorly. The hydration and swelling capacities were 2.19 and 41.9% respectively. The study revealed that the cellulose material compares favourably with Avicel PH 101 as well as official requirement specified in the British Pharmacopoeia 1993 for microcrystalline cellulose Keywords: Chasmanthera dependens; Microcrystalline cellulose, Extraction; Characterization Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources Vol. 3 (2) 2006: pp. 70-76

Neorautanenia mitis is a leguminous sub-shrubby climbing plant with a tuberous root which could be exploited as a potential source of pharmaceutical grade starch. This study aims to determine the suitability of Neorautanenia mitis starch (NMS) as a disintegrant in tablet formulation. Its physicochemical properties such as solubility, acidity, pH, hydration capacity, swelling capacity, content of amylose and amylopectin and flow properties were determined. The starch (NMS) was employed as a disintegrant in the preparation of paracetamol granules at concentrations of 7.5, 10 and 15 % and evaluated. The granules were compressed into tablets at 0.5, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 MT and tablet properties were evaluated. The physicochemical properties showed NMS has good flow, lower amylose content and higher swelling power than maize starch BP (MS). Tablet formulations containing NMS had similar hardness with those containing MS at 0.5 MT while hardness was observed to increase with increase in compression pressure. Tablets containing NMS were found to elicit faster tablet disintegration than those containing maize starch BP and also had higher t75 values. Furthermore, increasing the compression pressure was found to be decrease the rate of drug release.Keywords: Neorautanenia mitis starch, disintegrant, compression pressure, paracetamol tablets

The potentials of transfersomal formulations for transdermal delivery of NIPRD-AF1 was investigated. NIPRD-AF1 is a phytomedicine derived from the leaves of an indigenous plant, for use in the treatment of fungal infections. A transfersomal vesicular carrier system of NIPRD-AF1 was formulated and evaluated for topical application. Transfersomes of AF1 were prepared by solvent evaporation method using a phospholipid (Phospholipon 90 H) and varying concentrations of a mixture of surfactants (sodium lauryl sulphate, sorbitan monolaurate and Tween 80), and other performance enhancing excipients. The ointment was prepared by the fusion method using British Pharmacopoeia (BP) standard. The transfersomal carrier system was characterized using vesicle morphology, pH, entrapment efficiency (EE) and stability. The in vitro drug release of the transfersomes were studied using rat skin and Franz diffusion cell and compared to that of the ointment formulation of AF1. Transfersome formulation with the highest concentration of phospholipon and surfactants had optimal characteristics with an entrapment efficiency of 76.4 ± 0.04%. Optical microscopy showed presence of spherical vesicles in the transfersomal formulation with mean size (diameter) range of 57.5 ± 2.4 – 79.5 ± 3.10 μm. The pH values ranged between 6.40 and 6.48. The stability study showed that the transfersome formulations were most stable between 4-8oC. All the transfersomal formulations showed potentials for systemic delivery and better permeation profiles than the ointment formulation of AF1.Keywords: NIPRD-AF1, transfersome, ointment, permeation, transdermal drug delivery

Purpose: To characterize some preformulation properties of aqueous stem bark extract of Bridelia ferruginea Benth (Euphorbiaceae) (BF).Methods: The stem bark was extracted by maceration in hot distilled water. Two batches of granules containing the extract were prepared by wet granulation using maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), Avicel® PH-101, magnesium stearate, acacia and lactose as excipients. Some physicochemical and micromeritic properties of the powdered extract and granules were determined following standard procedures.Results: The pH of the aqueous BF extract was 5.4 ± 0.1 while the moisture content of the dry extract was 12.0 %. Total ash value of the extract was 7.91 ± 0.03. Particle size increased after granulation from 228 to 531 μm in the order: granules 1 > granules 2 > powder. The bulk and tapped densities decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 0.40 ± 0.04 to 0.77 ± 0.09 and 0.49 ± 0.05 to 0.85 ± 0.09 g/ml, respectively in the order: granules 2 < granules 1 < powder. Similarly, the angle of repose increased after granulation from 24.0 ± 0.5 to 25.4 ± 0.9 o in the order: granules 2 < granules 1 < powder (p < 0.05). The flow rate and compressibility of the granules (2.45 ± 0.08 g/min and 0.17, respectively) improved significantly (p < 0.05) over those of the powdered BF extract (2.34 ± 0.05 g/min and 0.26, respectively).Conclusion: The results of this preformulation study indicates that the powdered extract of Bridelia ferruginea possesses properties that make it suitable for its formulation into standard solid dosage forms.Keywords: Herbal medicines, Bridelia ferruginea, Preformulation studies, Micromeritic properties, Wet granulation.