S.O Eraga

Objectives: To assess and compare the decomposition performance of carboxymethylated and acid-hydrolyzed bitter sweet potato starch in the formulation of Paracetamol tablets. Method: Bitter sweet potato starch, extracted from African bitter sweet potatoes, was subjected to modifications through carboxymethylation and acid hydrolysis. Subsequently, various concentrations (5% w/w, 7.5% w/w, and 10% w/w) of carboxymethylated acid-hydrolyzed bitter sweet potato starch were utilized to prepare distinct batches of Paracetamol tablets employing the direct granulation method. The granules were subjected to an evaluation of flow properties, including angle of repose, Carr index, and Hausner ratio, while the tablets underwent assessment for weight uniformity, crush resistance, fragility, disintegration time, wetting time, and solubility. Results: All particles exhibited free-flowing characteristics with an angle of repose of less than 33 (< 33°), a Hausner ratio of less than 1.5 (< 1.0%. Wetting times were consistently < 2 minutes, and decomposition times were < 5 minutes. Dissolution studies revealed that tablets containing bittersweet potato starch hydrolyzed at 10°Fexhibited a drug release rate of 100%, while those with starch hydrolyzed at 10°F displayed drug release rate of 96.39%. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both carboxymethylated and acid-hydrolyzed starches result in shorter decomposition times and improved solubility properties. This implies that acid hydrolysis and carboxymethylation enhance the decomposition and solubility characteristics of starch, making it a cost-effective alternative to sodium starch glycolate in pharmaceutical applications.