Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

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Original Research Article

Evaluation of the Suspending Properties of the Co-precipitate of Irvingia gabonesis Gum and Gelatin

Sylvester O Eraga¹*, Magnus A Iwuagwu¹ and Michael U Adikwu²

¹Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City 300001, ²Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria

*For correspondence: Email: eragaso@uniben.edu; Tel: +2348030884928

Received: 7 September 2013 Revised accepted: 9 March 2014

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, June 2014; 13(6): 843-848

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v13i6.3

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the suspending properties of the co-precipitate from Irvingia gabonensis gum variety Excelsa (Fam: Irvingiaceae) and gelatin.

Methods: The gum from Irvingia gabonensis was extracted and co-precipitated with gelatin in gum/gelatin ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:0 and 0:1. The suspending ability of the different ratios was evaluated in magnesium trisilicate suspension, and compared with a suspension prepared with Compound Tragacanth Powder BP (CTP) as well as a commercially available magnesium trisilicate suspension (MTS). The parameters tested were sedimentation rate, flow rate, viscosity, and pH. The effect of mono- and divalent electrolytes on the sedimentation rate of the suspensions was also studied.

Results: In terms of suspending ability, co-precipitated gum-gelatin ratio of 1:2 was comparable to CTP while gum-gelatin ratio 1:3 was a superior suspending agent than CTP with regard to the parameters determined. At 2 % w/v concentration, the suspending ability of the suspending agents were in the rank order: 1:4 > 1:3 > 1:2 > CTP > 1:1 > 1:0 > MTS > 0:1. The 1:3 ratio suspensions also exhibited good stability following addition of mono- and divalent electrolytes although there was significant (p > 0.05) reduction in sedimentation volume.

Conclusion: It can be inferred from the results of this investigation that the suspension prepared with the co-precipitate of Irvingia gabonensis gum and gelatin as a suspending agent appears to be superior to those prepared with the gum or gelatin alone as well as MTS.

Keywords: Irvingia gabonensis, Gum, Gelatin, Co-precipitate, Suspending agent, Stability, Magnesium trisilicate, Electrolytes