DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF COLON TARGETED DELIVERY OF TEGASEROD MALEATE FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

The colon is being extensively investigated as a drug delivery site. Colonic drug delivery is a relatively recent approach for the treatment of diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. To achieve successful colon targeted drug delivery, a drug needs to be protected from degradation, release and /or absorption in upper portion of GI tract and then ensure abrupt or controlled release in proximal colon. The purpose of this research is to develop and evaluate the polysaccharide based compression coated tablets of Tegaserod maleate for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Core tablets of Tegaserod maleate were compression coated with various proportions of Galactosol, xanthan gum and chitosan. This work aimed to prepare compression coated tablets by direct compression method using single polymer and combination of polymers. And to evaluate prepared tablets parameters like hardness, friability, thickness, diameter, weight variation, drug content, swelling index, in vitro drug release. Keywords: Colon, Tegaserod maleate, Galactosol, xanthan gum and chitosanÂ