Abstract

This research is aimed at producing alternative starch used for tablet binding from amura tuber. The microbiological load and physicochemical properties of native and modified amura starches were determined using plate counting method and standard method of BP. Amylose and amylopectin content of native and modified amura starches were determined using spectrophotometric method. Binding and disintegrant abilities of these starches were studied using paracetamol as a model drug. Paracetamol tablets were formulated by wet granulation method using NAS, AS, and EHS as binders. The tablet characteristics were evaluated using standard method of BP. The results of this study indicates that microbial and Fungi load of NAS, AS, EHS and MS range from 1 to 30 colonies forming unit (cfc/g). The swelling power and solubility of the starches were found to increase with temperature and the values are higher for EHS and AS. Also the NAS have crushing strength of (4.766 ± 0.152), AS (7.000 ± 0.500), EHS (3.900 ± 0.100) and MS (5.633±1.184) and are significant different at (p<0.05) while friability of NAS is (0.760 ± 0.068, AS (1.060 ± 0.121, EHS (0.556 ± 0040) and MS (0.873 ± 0.1007) and they are significant different at (p<0.05). The results of disintegration of the tablets indicate that EHS disintegrate faster than NAS, AS and MS. The results of dissolution of paracetamol tablets formulated with NAS, AS, EHS and MS at t50, t70 and t90 minutes are within range of 70%-97%. (quantity dissolved in 45 min ≥ 70% BP standard).

Key words: NAS = Amura Starch (Tacca involucrate), EHS = Enzyme hydrolysed Starch, AS = Acetylate Starch, MS = Maize starch, Amylose, Amylopectin, Paracetamol tablet and BP= British Pharmacopia.