PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF DISINTEGRANT PROPERTIES OFCROSS-LINKED SORGHUM (SORGHUM ARUNDINACEUM) STARCH INMETRONIDAZOLE TABLET FORMULATIONS

Abstract

Starch is one of the most versatile excipients used in this process due to its multifunctional properties. In its native
form, it is commonly employed as a disintegrant in tablet formulations. However, several limitations that affect its
stability on storage, compressibility, and flowability have led to its modification to obtain starch derivatives with
better physicochemical and physicochemical properties. In the present study, native sorghum starch (NSS) and its
cross-linked derivative were tested as a disintegrant in metronidazole tablets. NSS was cross-linked with phosphorus
oxychloride (POCl3), 0.3 %v/v, to obtain cross-linked sorghum starch (CSS). Both starches were evaluated for their
physicochemical and micrometric properties and evidence of crosslinking and compatibility with the model drug
was determined using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Metronidazole tablets were formulated
using both the wet granulation and direct compression methods, and the tablets were evaluated using standard
pharmacopeia methods. FTIR revealed the presence of phosphorus-bound symmetry in CSS at 1273.06 cm-1
and
995.30 cm-1
. An improvement in the flow properties of CSS over NSS was achieved. Generally, the tablets had
friability values of less than 1%, irrespective of the method of preparation. Also, tablets made by direct compression
showed higher crushing strengths and DER but lower disintegration times for both NSS and CSS. All the tablets
disintegrated and released 75 % of their drug content in less than 15 min, with slower release rates seen with CSS.
The two starches perform well in both wet granulation and direct compression; however, the CSS formulation had
longer disintegration time compared to those formulations of NSS and MSBP when used in both wet granulation and
direct compression.