Assessment of Compressive Characteristics of Some Brands of Artemether – Lumefantrine Double Strength Tablets

The study was aimed at comparatively evaluating the mechanical properties of some brands of artemether – lumefantrine double strength tablet (DST) products. The friability, hardness, disintegration tests, compressive stress, strain, extension and energy release at break of six randomly selected brands of DST products were evaluated using conventional pharmaceutical devices and engineering computerized Instron hardness tester. All the brands of the DST products passed the tablet friability test with values lower than 1% loss while one failed the disintegration test. Three brands exhibited hardness outcomes in the range of 1.30 to 3.26 KgF. Two brands gave energy release of 0.01 J while the others had 0 values at break. The plot of compressive stress and compressive strain for the products produce strikingly different pictogram patterns indicative of variable mechanical characteristics and drug release pattern (P<0.05). The DST formulations exhibited significant differences in their mechanical characteristics at break which could result in possible differences in their bioavailability outcomes (P<0.05). A standard operating procedure (SOP) is required to harmonize the outcomes of the mechanical characteristics of artemether – lumefantrine DST formulations