FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FAST DISSOLVING TABLETS OF ARTEMETHER AND LUMEFANTRINE

Artemether and lumefantrine are anitmalarial drugs used in the management of malaria. The objective of the proposed research work is to prepare and evaluate the fast dissolving tablets (FDTs) of artemether and lumefantrine, which avoid the first-pass metabolism, improved the dissolution rate and enhance the bioavailability. Fast dissolving tablets (FDTs) were prepared by direct compression method by using combination of superdisintegrant like, Crosspovidone and sodium starch glycolate(5%,10%,&15%) and evaluated for physico-chemical evaluation parameter such as hardness, friability, weight variation, drug content uniformity, water absorption ratio, wetting time, in-vitro andisintegration time, in-vitro dissolution studies. The control tablet (without superdisintegrant) was formulated and evaluated. The 12 formulations, F1to F6 were formulated and among these formulations, F3 (crosspovidine) was optimized. The hardness, friability, weight variation and drug content were found to be within pharmacopeias limits. The water absorption ratio, wetting time, in-vitro disintegration time of optimized formulation, F3 was found to be 62.87%, 12secs and 15secs respectively. The formulation, F3 was considered to best formulation, which released up to 99.49% (artemether) & 99.15% (lumefantrine)in 25 minutes. The comparison of dissolution rate profile of formulation and controlled formulation of artemether and lumefantrine tablet with best formulation, F3 was conducted. The result showed that the formulation, F3showed complete drug release within 25 minutes and controlled formulation showed 26.50% (artemether) &24.50%(lumefantrine) drug release in 25 minutes. The stability study was also conducted the best formulation, F3 and it indicates that there was no significant change in any parameters. Hence the formulation F3 was considered to be highly stable.