SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND APPLICATION OF α -CELLULOSE FROM PENNISETUM PURPUREUM AS A DISINTEGRANT IN TABLET FORMULATION

This study was undertaken to process a locally available tablet disintegrant from Pennisetum purpureum inorder to reduce importation of such pharmaceutical excipients into the country. Some physicochemical and flow properties of the processed α-cellulose were studied. The α-cellulose was also employed as disintegrant in some tablet formulations. Some of the physicochemical and flow properties evaluated were, moisture content, bulk density, packed density, Carrs compressibility, angle of repose and Hausner quotient. The tablet properties studied were, disintegration time, hardness, friability and dissolution rate. The prepared α-cellulose had poor flow properties since it recorded high values of angle of repose, Carr's compressibility and Hausner's quotient. All the batches of tablets passed the weight uniformity test. Tablets formulated with the α-cellulose showed lower disintegration and dissolution times than the tablets containing maize starch as disintegrant. Hence the processed α- cellulose could be employed as a locally available substitute to maize starch as a tablet disintegrant. Global Jnl Pure & Applied Sciences Vol.10(1) 2004: 95-10