APPLICATIONS, ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FENUGREEK SEED GUM AS PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT

Fenugreek seed gum (FSG) is a polysaccharide having galactomannans as chemical constituents, and it is isolated from the seeds of Trigonellafoenum guaiacum (Family Leguminosae). Generally, polysaccharides play vital roles such as emulsifying, hydrating, thickening, gelling, and suspending agents in the pharmaceutical formulations. The objective of this research work was to investigate the film coating potential of FSG, using paracetamol as a model drug. Aqueous coating solution consists of 2% FSG hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (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 showed lower friability; increased disintegration time (14 min) as compared to the core tablet (3 min), with improved hardness, and drug release profile. FSG film coated batches showed drug release profile up to 8 hrs and HPMC coated batches showed drug release up to 12 hrs. The results of drug release rate of…