FLORENCE E. EICHIE

PURPOSE: A dispersion containing indispersible solids undergo rapid sedimentation and this makes it difficult to withdraw uniform and consistent dosing. Aim: Hence the aim of this study is to evaluate the gum extracted from Chrysophyllum albidum fruit as a suspending agent in the formulation of magnesium trisilicate and light magnesium carbonate suspension in comparison with acacia gum as a standard. Methods: The gum was extracted from the pulp of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit by precipitation with methanol and dried into powder form at room temperature for 3 days. The resulting powdered gum was subjected to physiochemical characterization and its organoleptic properties. Varying concentration (5-20%w/v) of the gum were employed in the formulation of mist magnesium trisilicate and carbonate suspension respectively and the resulting suspension were evaluated for sedimentation rates, flow rate and redispersibility index over seven days of storage respectively. Results: The viscosity indices obtained for gums were 9.38-50.33 (C.albidum) and 6.12-39.50 (A.senegal) at varying concentration 5-20%w/v respectively. Viscosity of the suspension were concentration dependent; an increase in concentration lead to corresponding increase in viscosity. The suspension displayed a decrease in sedimentation rate with increase in concentration of the gum and this is in tandem with stokes law. The results of the flow rate of freshly made suspension showed a corresponding decrease in flow rate as gum concentration increased 1.25-0.08ml/s (C.albidum) and 1.67-0.10ml/s, (A.senegal) and this affect was more marked with C.albidum. Both gums displayed similar redispersibility indices and again this was concentration dependent. Conclusion: The study showed that the gum obtained from Chrysophyllum albidum compares favourably with Acacia gum as a suspending agents in the formulation of pharmaceutical dispersion and hence they can be substituted as suspending agents in pharmaceutical suspension. From the study, research should be carried out on improved and a better method for the extraction of gum from Chrysophyllum albidum fruits.

Background: Pharmaceutical manufacturing often relies on imported and synthetic binders, which can be costly and have variable availability. This study was aimed at evaluating starch from a locally sourced tuber, water yam (Dioscorea alata), as a cost-effective alternative. The study specifically compared the performance of native (unmodified) starch to pregelatinized water yam starch and corn starch. Methods: Starch was extracted from fresh Dioscorea alata tubers. A portion of this starch was then pregelatinized by forming a starch slurry of 50g of the extracted starch in 100ml of water and then heating it at 80ºc until a gel was formed. The gel was dried at 55ºF, converted back to powdered form and subjected to physicochemical characterization. Three distinct batches of 500mg paracetamol tablets were formulated using 0.5g/mL of corn starch, (2) native water yam starch, and (3) pregelatinized water yam starch as the binders. All tablet batches were evaluated for standard quality control parameters, including friability, disintegration time, and in-vitro dissolution. Results: All formulations using water yam starch (both native and pregelatinized) produced tablets with excellent mechanical strength, as indicated by friability values well below the 1.0% pharmacopeial limit. The disintegration test, however, revealed critical differences. The corn starch tablets failed, with a disintegration time of over 2 hours. The native water yam starch tablets also failed, at 43 minutes. In striking contrast, the tablets made with pregelatinized water yam starch passed with an excellent disintegration time of 60 seconds. The dissolution results directly reflected this: the corn starch and native starch batches failed to release the drug, while the pregelatinized batch met the standard. Conclusion: This study confirms that pregelatinization is an essential modification to unlock the potential of water yam starch. While native water yam starch acts as too strong a binder, pregelatinization transforms it into a highly effective, multifunctional excipient that provides both good binding and rapid disintegration. Pregelatinized Dioscorea alata starch is, therefore, a viable, locally sourced, and superior alternative to conventional binders like corn starch for immediate-release tablet formulations.

Ensuring that medications are effective is crucial for the pharmaceutical industry. Factors like humidity can have undesirable impact on the Dissolution Profiles of these drugs, which could affect their therapeutic efficacy. This study explores the frequently disregarded connection between humidity and the Dissolution Profiles of aspirin tablet for five popular brands in the
Nigerian market. It is essential to understand this relationship to guarantee both patient safety and standard drug performance. Aim and objectives: the aim of this study was to investigate how varying relative humidity affects the dissolution profiles of the various brands aspirin tablets after prolonged storage under these conditions. Methods: The dissolution profiles of five well-known brands of aspirin tablets available in Nigeria were investigated using standard pharmacopeial methods. Two humidity levels, 0% and 70%, were used for the dissolution studies to replicate typical Nigerian ambient conditions. Dissolution Profiles were produced, and the rates and extents of dissolution under various humidity levels were compared. Results : the results from the experiment showed that Elevated relative humidity seems to quicken the process of dissolution for the five brands of aspirin used in the study which could result in quicker drug release and absorption. On the other hand, reduced humidity can hinder drug disintegration and cause a delayed release of the medication. Conclusion : This study confirmed that changes in the dissolution profiles occur when Aspirin tablets are stored under varying relative humidity conditions of 0% Relative humidity and 70%Relative humidity. This study revealed that there is an undesired reduction in the percentage of the drug released when stored at 0% relative humidity and also an undesired increase in the percentage of drug released when stored at 70% relative humidity as seen from the results over the 10 week period. It is imperative that patients, caregivers and even manufacturers are educated on the need to store tablets in facilities and areas of optimum relative humidity in order to preserve the efficacy of these drugs.