Preparation and evaluation of dispersible tablets of Trikatu extract

Abstract

T raditional Ayurvedic formulations are consumed increasingly as dietary supplements to fight or prevent various types of diseases since ages. "Tlikatu" (Sanskrit, meaning "three acrid"), is a mixture of black pepper (Piper nigrum); long pepper (Piper longum); and ginger (Zingiber ofticinale); widely used in Ayurvedic system of medicines to enhance bioavailability. However being consumed in powder form, it is associated with certain limitations of large and uncalculated dose and uncertain quality. To overcome this, the present study was carried out to develop standardized dispersible tablets of Trikatu extracts. Three main ingredients were thus subjected for extraction, screened for phytochemical status using standard markers by high-performance thin-layer chromatographyhigh-performance thin-layer chromatography and mixed proportionately. A method was then developed to formulate these extracts into dispersible tablets by direct compression method and evaluated for their physico-chemical properties, which have demonstrated good flow properties with zero drug-excipient incompatibility, less disintegration time and other requirements within pharmacopoeial limits. This scientifically developed formulation intends to have advantages over the traditional form and thus be able to deliver better therapeutic results.