Preparation and Evaluation of Surface Solid Dispersion of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract using Freeze Drying Method

Moringa leaf extract contains flavonoids which are useful as a source of antioxidants. The development of Moringa leaf extract into pharmaceutical dosage forms has several problems, including thick consistency, low solubility in water, and stability alteration during heating. Formation of surface solid dispersion (SSD) of moringa extract is one approach to increase the solubility of flavonoid compounds and improve the physical-mechanical characteristics of moringa leaf extract. This research aims to develop SSD of moringa extract with microcrystalline cellulose as the carrier, as well as to carry out physical and chemical characterization. The method used in the preparation of SSD of Moringa leaf extract-microcrystalline cellulose is freeze drying. There are two ratios developed in this study, namely 1:2 and 1:4. The results of the analysis showed that the SSD moisture content of Moringa leaf extract-microcrystalline cellulose 1:2 was 6.09%, while the ratio 1:4 was 5.06%. The SSD 1:2 exhibited sufficient powder flowability, while the 1:4 ratio showed poor flowability. The results of the analysis of crystallinity and thermal characteristics indicated a decrease in the regularity of the crystal lattice marked by a decrease in the specific peak intensity on the X-ray diffractogram, as well as a shift in the melting point and a decrease in the enthalpy of the SSD system 1:2 and 1:4 on the DSC thermogram. The total flavonoid content of SSD 1:2 was 7,1 ± 0,0527 mg QE/g, while the total flavonoid content of SSD 1:4 was 4,0 ± 0,0797 mg QE/g. The solubility of flavonoid compounds from the SSD 1:2 system was 67.33 µg/ml, showing an enhancement of solubility compared to Moringa leaf extract (64.11 µg/ml), physical mixture (54.60-58.81 µg/ml), and SSD 1:4 (48.09 µg/ml) (p