Modified Terminalia randii gum as a binder in metronidazole tablet formulation

The aim of this work is to acetylate Terminalia randii gum and evaluate its effectiveness as a binder in metronidazole tablet formulations. The gum was extracted using standard methods. The extracted gum was acetylatedand used at varying concentrations (1%-5%w/w) as a binder in metronidazole tablets and compared with a standard binder, polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) using wet granulation. The granule properties were assessed using bulk and tapped densities, Carr's index, Hausner's ratio, angle of repose and flow rate. The mechanical properties of tablets were assessed using friability, crushing strength and crushing strength friability ratio while the release properties were evaluated using disintegration time, and dissolution time for 50% and 80% of the drug (t50 and t80 respectively). Statistical analysis using ANOVA was carried out with computer software graph pad prism (Graph pad software INC. San Diego, USA). At 95% confidence intervals, p value less than or equal to 0.05 were considered significant. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the granule properties.Formulations prepared with acetylated gum (ATR) had significantly lower (P 0.05) in the release properties of the formulations. ATR could be substituted for PVP as a binder in pharmaceutical formulations. KEYWORDS-Acetylation, Metronidazole, Release properties, Tablet, Terminalia randii gum