Isolation and Characterization of Tamarind Seed Gum as Pharmaceutical Excipient

Objective: Tamarind seed gum (TSG) is a polysaccharide having galactomannans as chemical constituents, and it is extracted from the seeds of Tamarindus indica L (Family Fabaceae). Generally, polysaccharides play most important roles as thickening, gelling, emulsifying, hydrating, and suspending agents in pharmaceutical formulations. The purpose of this work was to investigate the film coating potential of tamarind seed gum (TSG), using paracetamol as a model drug. Material and Method: Tamarind seed gum, Paracetamol tablet, Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Sodium alginate, and Distilled water. Core tablets of paracetamol were obtained from a pharmacy shop in the local market and the physicochemical properties such as weight, hardness, friability, and disintegration time were evaluated. Aqueous coating solution consists of 2% TSG hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) (2% w/v), and sodium alginate (1% w/v) were prepared and used to coat the tablets by dip coating technique. The coated tablets were evaluated. Result: The coated tablets showed lower friability; increased disintegration time (14 min) as compared to the core tablet (3 min), improved hardness, and improved drug release profile. TSG film coated batches showed drug release profile up to 10 hrs and HPMC coated batches showed drug release up to 12 hrs. The results of drug release rate of TSG film is very closed to HPMC release profile. This TSG have good film formers properties. It is a promising natural, biodegradable, cheap and eco-friendly film former, particularly when masking of taste or objectionable odor in a solid dosage formulation is desired. It can be used as carrier in sustained release formulation.Conclusion: On the basis of result we can conclude that TSG has promising properties as pharmaceutical excipient. It could be used in the formulation of sustained release matrix as coating agent.