Purpose: Some excipients are currently available for the formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions. The purpose of this study is to search for a cheap and effective natural excipient that can be used as an effective alternative for the formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions.
Method: The suspending properties of
Albizia zygia
gum (family Mimosoideae) were evaluated comparatively with those of Compound Tragacanth, Acacia and Gelatin at concentration range of 0.5 - 4.0%w/v in Sulphadimidine suspension. Characterization tests were carried out on purified
Albizia zygia gum. Sedimentation volume (%), rheology and particle size analysis were employed as evaluation parameters. The values obtained therefrom were used as basis for comparison of the suspending agents studied.
Results: Albizia zygia gum is devoid of alkaloids, anthraquinones and carbohydrates which ensures its "inertness".
Albizia zygia gum (2.5%w/v) produced a comparable suspending ability as 4%w/v Compound Tragacanth. Also, the suspending ability of all the materials was found to be in the order:
Albizia zygia > Compound Tragacanth gum > Acacia gum > Gelatin. At all concentrations employed,
Albizia zygia gum had the strongest suspending ability relative to the other materials.
Conclusion: The results suggest that, due to the high viscosity of
Albizia zygia gum, its mucilage can be a stabilizer of choice when high viscosity is desired. It can also serve as a good thickening agent in both pharmaceutical and food industries.