Evaluation of Grewia ferruginea Hochst ex A. Rich Mucilage as Suspending Agent in Metronidazole Benzoate Suspension

Abstract

Various species of the genus Grewia have been investigated for different pharmaceutical applications as excipients, yet a study on the potential use of Grewia ferruginea mucilage (GFM) as a suspending agent is lacking. Thus, this study is aimed at evaluating the efficacy of Grewia ferruginea mucilage (GFM) as a suspending agent in metronidazole benzoate suspension. The suspensions were prepared using 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% w / v of GFM and compared with suspensions prepared from xanthan gum (XGM) and sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (SCMC) in similar concentrations. The prepared suspensions were evaluated for visual appearance, pH, rheology, sedimentation volume, redispersibility, degree of flocculation, and in vitro drug release profile. Stability study was done at different storage conditions for three months. The results indicated that all the prepared suspension formulations exhibited pseudoplastic flow characteristics with viscosity imparting ability of the suspending agents in the order of XGM > GFM > SCMC ( p < 0.05 ). The flow rate and redispersibility of the formulations prepared with GFM were significantly lower than those with SCMC and higher than those prepared with XGM. At 0.5% w / v suspending agent concentrations, the sedimentation volume of the formulations was in the order of XGM > GFM > SCMC ( p < 0.05 ). However, at all other concentrations, the sedimentation volume of the formulations prepared with GFM had similar results with XGM but exhibited significantly higher sedimentation volume than SCMC. The formulations with GFM showed a higher degree of flocculation at 0.5% w / v concentration but were comparable at 1.5% w / v with XGM containing formulations. The pH, assay, and in vitro release profile of all assessed formulations were within the pharmacopial limit. Thus, based on the finding of this study, it can be concluded that Grewia ferruginea bark mucilage has the potential to be utilized as a suspending agent in suspension formulations.

Plant-Based Gums and Mucilages Applications in Pharmacology and Nanomedicine: A Review

“…The pH, examined, and in vitro release profile of all formulations evaluated were pharmacological. Therefore, based on the findings of this investigation, it can be determined that the mucilage of the bark of Grewia ferruginea could be used as a suspending factor in suspension formulations [ 113 ].…”

Evaluation of Basella alba L. Mucilage as a Suspending Agent in Metronidazole Suspension

“…A good suspension is expected not to sediment rapidly. When sedimentation volume is near to 1 or 100%, the particles tend to flocculate easily 4 .…”

“…carbopol, semisynthetic e.g. methyl cellulose and natural agents such as the polysaccharides [2][3][4] .…”

Physicochemical and microbiological evaluation of ibuprofen suspension produced using Detarium microcarpum as suspending agent

“…4 Suspending agents can be synthetic, semi-synthetic or of natural origin. Some natural gums like okra gum 5 , tragacanth gum, Sida acuta gum 2 , Aloe elegans Mucilage 6 , Aloe weloensis mucilage 7 , Trigonella foenum graecum mucilage 4 , grewia polysaccharide gum 8 , Grewia ferruginea mucilage 9 and Brachystegia eurycoma gum 10 were used as suspending agents in the formulation of suspensions. The advantages of the use of natural gums as suspending agents when compared to synthetic ones include biocompatibility, low cost, easy availability, biodegradable and environmental friendliness.…”