Evaluation of excipients of natural origin (ACACIA, PECTIN)

 Experiment

Object:  

Evaluation of excipients of natural origin (ACACIA, PECTIN)

References:

 Indian Pharmacopeia 2010, Volume III, Govt of India, Ministry of family and welfare.pg no 3172.

 

Requirement: 

Glassware: Mentioned in procedure

 Chemicals : Mentioned in procedure.

Theory:

Excipients are additives used to convert the active pharmaceutical ingredients into dosage forms suitable for administration to patients.1 Synthetic polymers offer a broad range of properties that can be reasonably well ―built- in‖ by design and modified by altering polymer characteristics.  Plant products are therefore, attractive alternatives to synthetic products because of biocompatibility, low toxicity, environmental ―friendliness‖ and low price compared to synthetic products. Natural gums obtained from plants have diverse applications in drug delivery as a disintegrant, emulsifying agent, suspending agents and as binders. Natural gums (gums obtained from plants) are hydrophilic carbohydrate polymers of high molecular weights, generally composed of monosaccharide units joined by glucocidic bonds. They are generally insoluble in oils or organic solvents such as hydrocarbons, ether, or alcohols. Gums are either water soluble or absorb water and swell up or disperse in cold water to give a viscous solution or jelly. On hydrolysis they yield arabinose, galactose, mannose and glucuronic acid.

Procedure: 

Evaluation as per WHO guidelines

Organoleptic characters:

Morphological characters : Color, Odor, Taste, Shape and size, 

1)Microscopic study

Physiochemical evaluation

Loss on drying:  Take a 3 gm of drug in a empty china dish weigh it accurately then keep it in a oven at 105 o C for 20-30 min. Measure the change in weight 

Initial-Final /Initial  X 100

2)Total Ash: 

3 gm of the air dried drug powder was placed in a tarred silica crucible and incinerated at a temperature not exceeding 450oC until free from carbon, cooled and it was again weighed. The percentage of ash was calculated with reference to air dried drug.

    

 3)Acid Insoluble: 

The total ash was boiled with 25 ml of 2M HCl for 5 min. The insoluble matter was collected in an ash less filter paper, then it was washed with hot water, ignited and cooled in a desiccators and weighed and the percentage of acid insoluble ash was calculated with reference to air dried drug. 

 

4)Water Soluble Ash: 

 The total ash was boiled for five minutes with 25 ml of water and the insoluble matter was collected on an ash less filter paper, washed with hot water and ignited for 15 minutes at a temp not exceeding 4500C. The weight of the insoluble matter was subtracted from the weight of the total ash and the difference in weight represents the water soluble ash. The percentage of water-soluble ash was calculated with reference to the air dried drug.

IDENTIFICATION TEST 

  An aqueous solution is gelatinized by addition of lead sub--acetate solution.

To 5ml of 10%w/v solution add gradually while shaking 10 ml of ethanol. The cloudy liquid on addition of 0.5ml of ammonium oxalate solution. The filtrate become cloudy.