Abstract

CO-PROCESSING EFFECT OF MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE/PRE-GELATINIZED MAIZE STARCH ON PROPERTIES OF DIRECTLY COMPRESSED FOLIC ACID TABLETS.

*Mohammed, B. B

Abstract

A binary mix powder containing various proportions of microcrystalline cellulose(MCC) and pregelatinized maize starch (PGS) was obtained, pelletized into 500 mg compacts, comminuted into granules which were compressed into 75 mg tablets containing 5 mg of folic acid powder using the direct compression method. The effect of the proportion of the binary components and compaction pressure on the proportion of comminuted pellets fines, mean granule size and tablet properties, were evaluated.The proportion of MCC in the binary mix was directly related to the proportion of fines produced and indirectly related to the mean granule size, showing that MCC had a lower binding effect than MCC. Increase in compaction pressure reduced tablet thickness, increased tablet hardness and reduced friability. This is due to higher densification effect on the tablets. PGS produced tablets with longer disintegration time (13.5 mins) compared to pure MCC content (0.8 mins). This showed that MCC is a better disintegrant than PGS.

Keywords: Binary mix, Microcrystalline cellulose, Pregelatinized maize starch, Folic acid, Direct compression, Compaction pressure.