Abstract

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MUCILAGE FROM BUTEA MONOSPERMA (LAM.) BARK

G. R. Shendarkar*, R.S. Dhutmal, V.C. Bhale, M.G. Kalaskar

Abstract

Butea monosperma (Lam.) found wildly grown in the forest of Marathwada region contains a high proportion of mucilage and it also being used for different therapeutic purposes. The present study is planned to isolate mucilage from the Butea monosperma bark by using ethanol precipitation method followed by its characterization by studying its morphological characteristics, identification by chemical tests, solubility, melting range, pH, Swelling index, Ash values, presence of foreign organic matter, test for lead and arsenic, Loss on drying, Density, compressibility index and angle of repose. The results of present work B. monosperma bark mucilage can be used as natural polymer and excipients in the pharmaceutical formulations.

Keywords: Butea monosperma bark, mucilage, isolation, characterization.