Evaluation of some hemicellulosic materials as an excipient for extended-release tablets

Abstract Cellulose-based excipients are widely used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. Although they are biocompatible, yet they are not digestible by human body due to absence of cellulase enzymes. Therefore, hemicelluloses were considered to be more suitable materials for development of such excipients. This work evaluates hemicelluloses isolated from Plantago ovata husk, Plantago ovata seeds, Lallemantia royleana, Occimum baccilium, Mimosa pudica, Salvia plebian, Acacia nilotica, Acacia modesta, Astraglus tragacantha and Cydonia oblonga as binders, targeted delivery and extended-release excipients for pharmaceutical tablets, using acetaminophen as a model drug. The tablets formulated through wet granulation method by using hemicelluloses from Acacia nilotica, Acacia modesta, Lallemantia royleana, Occimum baccilium, Plantago ovata husk afforded 6-7 kg cm-2 hardness with 15-25 min disintegration time at pH 6.8. Others exhibited significantly lower values. Whereas, the tablets prepared by direct compression came out with poor hardness values. The longer disintegration time in case of wet granulated tablet rendered them to release acetaminophen over an extended period of time. The tablet appears to be least affected in the stomach because of the insolubility of the hemicelluloses in highly acidic medium. The tablets from wet granulation method released 45-92% paracetamol for about 7 h following non-Fickian mechanism.