Evaluation of Basella alba L. Mucilage as a Suspending Agent in Metronidazole Suspension.

In the quest for natural biodegradable, non-toxic polymers for use as excipients in pharmaceutical formulations, mucilage of Basella alba L (BAM) stem was isolated and evaluated as a suspending agent in metronidazole suspensions at different concentrations (0.5% - 2% w/v) in comparison to tragacanth (TCG) and gelatin gums (GLT). The micromeritic properties of the mucilage powder were determined and the metronidazole suspension was characterized using flow rate, redispersion number, sedimentation volume, viscosity and pH. The degree of flocculation was also determined. BAM powder has good flow property with minimal swelling. The order of flow rate of metronidazole suspension was BAM=TCG>GLT while sedimentation volume ranking was TCG>BAM>GLT. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the redispersion number of BAM and TCG formulations. The viscosities of formulations containing BAM and TCG at concentrations of 0.5%-1.0% w/v were the same. The pH of the suspensions ranged from 5 to 8. The degree of flocculation was in the order GLT>BAM>TCG. From our findings, BAM can be used as an alternative suspending agent in suspension formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]