Philippine E-Journals

Cost-Effective Analysis Of The Extracted Mucilagenous Substance Of Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) and Corn Starch as Tablet Binders

Cherie D. Gasendo | Julmarie Claire C. Pascua | Clair J. Supangan | Rhea A. Cañal

Discipline: Chemistry, Pharmacology

 

Abstract:

Cost-effective pharmaceutical excipients are always desirable and economical because they are coming from the natural resources. Thus, this study aimed to isolate mucilage from okra (Hibiscus esculentus) fruits and to explore its utility as a pharmaceutical excipient such as binding agent. Acetaminophen tablets containing cornstarch as a binding agent was used as standard for comparison with the Acetaminophen tablets containing okra mucilage. On the other hand, okra mucilage and cornstarch were compared as individual binders in Paracetamol tablet formulations. Formulated tablets were prepared following the Paracetamol tablet of USP-NF (1995) protocol. Results revealed no significant difference between the okra mucilage and cornstarch in post-compression analysis of the formulated tablet in terms of the weight variation test, hardness, thickness and friability test. Meanwhile, disintegration time was less than 10 minutes. These test results conformed to the specification and standard of USP/NF. However, moisture content test of both formulated tablets failed to conform to the 10% specification of USP/NF since the result exhibited 2.80% of okra mucilage and 3.00% of cornstarch. Test for solubility revealed that both sources were insoluble in cold water; however, okra mucilage was slightly soluble while cornstarch was readily soluble in hot water. Study found that the price per tablet of the formulation had a P0.000012 difference. Formulated Paracetamol tablet with okra mucilage was cheaper than the cornstarch. Okra mucilage had the same efficacy yet was less expensive as tablet binder than cornstarch.