Evaluation
of Suspending Properties of Mucilage of Linnum usitatisimum
Linn. Seeds
CD Khadse1*, RB Kakde2, VK
Deshmukh1 and DS Mohale3
1Department of
Pharmacognosy, MES, College of
Pharmacy, Sonai, 414105, Tal. Newasa, Dist. Ahmednagar (M.S.), India.
2Department of Pharmaceutical Sci. RTM, Nagpur
University, Nagpur (M.S.), 440010 India.
3P.W. Colleges of Pharmacy, Yavatmal, (M.S.), 445001, India.
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this study is to search for a natural excipient that can be used as alternative in the
formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions. Present
study was carried out to evaluate suspending properties of mucilage of seeds Linnum usitatisimum
Lin. with those of tragacanth and Acacia at concentration range
of 1.0–4.0% w/v in calcium carbonate suspension. Evaluation parameters like
sedimentation profile, redispersibility, and pH were
compared with calcium carbonate (2.0%w/v) suspension prepared by using acacia
and tragacanth gum as standard suspending agent.
Suspension prepared with linseed mucilage was found a superior suspending agent
than acacia and comparable with tragacanth. Linseed
mucilage can be used as an effective
alternative in the formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions.
KEYWORDS: suspending agent, Linnum usitatisimum,
flax seed, mucilage
INTRODUCTION:
A
pharmaceutical suspension, like other disperse systems, is thermodynamically
unstable, thus making it necessary to include in the dosage form, a stabilizer
or suspending agent which reduces the rate of settling and permits easy redispersion of any settled particulate matter both by
protective colloidal action and by increasing the consistency of the suspending
medium.1-3 Gums are widely employed in the pharmacy as thickeners,
suspending agents, emulsifying agents, binders and film formers. With the
increase in demand for natural gums, it has been necessary to explore the newer
sources of gums to meet the industrial demands. India, due to its geographical
and environmental positioning has traditionally been a good source for such products
among the Asian countries.4 Linseeds (Linnum usitatisimum) is known as flax seed,
belonging to family Liliaceae. Since ancient time
mucilage and gums are used medicinal purpose. The mucilage accounts for about
8-10% flaxseed weight, and is known to be composed primarily of polysaccharides
which, on acid- catalyzed hydrolysis yield L-galactose,
D-xylose, Larabinose, L-rhamnose, D-galacturonic acid and
perhaps, traces of D-glucose. Polysaccharide gums are of commercial importance
in the food and other industries and flaxseed as a potential neutraceutical. Now flaxseed is being considered for
evidence of its beneficial effects in cancer, cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes, inflammatory diseases such as lupus nephritis, renal function and
even for its anti malarial activity.5
Flaxseed is the
richest known plant source of the ω - 3 fatty acid (α linolenic acid or ALA, >50% of
the fatty acids present in the oil fraction). Flaxseed oil has been shown to
modulate immune response, to have anti cancer effects, to inhibit platelet
aggregation and to attenuate renal function decline in a rat renal ablation
model. All of these have been attributed to the high ALA content of flaxseed
oil.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Gum Tragacanth and acacia
was procured from Research Lab fine chem. Industries, Mumbai, India. All the
other solvents, reagents used were of Pharmacopoeial
and analytical grade.
Linnum usitatisimum seeds were purchased from local market and identified
from the Department of Botany, Science College, Sonai,
Ta. Newasa, Dist. Ahmednagar (M.S.).
Extraction of the
Mucilage:
About 500gm of dried linseeds were defatted with petroleum ether
(60-80 oC ) by using soxhlation method for
5 hrs. in soxhlet apparatus,
the defatted linseeds are dried at room temperature for 2 days. Dried seeds
were soaked into 1 liter distilled water for 12 hrs. The resulting mass was
stirred at about 100 rpm for 1 hrs and strained through muslin cloth. To the
filtrate, sufficient quantity of solvent acetone was added to precipitate the
complete mucilage of linseed. The precipitated mucilage was filtered through muslin
cloth and the mucilaginous resides was spread on glass plates and dried at 400C.
Then it was dispersed in 200 ml distilled water with stirring for 12 hrs. and ethanol was added in different proportion. Initially the
concentration of ethanol was made up to 20% in the solution. Impurities which
precipitated were removed by centrifugation. The ethanol concentration was
further increased to 60% to precipitate the mucilage. The precipitated mucilage
were filtered, treated with acetone to remove the traces of water and dried in
an oven at 400 C. The finally 8 %w/w yield was obtained.
Preparation of calcium
carbonate Suspensions:
Tragacanth powder (1.0 g)
and of calcium carbonate (2.0 g) were triturated together with 10 ml of
distilled water to form a smooth paste. Benzoic acid solution (2.0 ml ) was added gradually with constant stirring and then
mixed with 50 ml of chloroform water double strength. The mixture was
transferred into a 100 ml graduated measuring cylinder and volume was make up
with distilled water and then shaken vigorously for 2 min (thus making 1.0%w/v
of the gum in the preparation). The procedure was repeated to make 2.0, 3.0,
and 4.0 %w/v of compound tragacanth gum in the
preparation. The above procedure was repeated for acacia gum, and mucilage.
Evaluation of suspension:
Sedimentation Volume:
Each suspension (50 ml) was
stored in a 50 ml measuring cylinder for 18 days, at a room temp (about 28-30 oC). Observations were made at every 3 days for
18 days. Sedimentation volume (F) is the ratio of the
ultimate height (Hu) of the sediment as a
suspension settles in a cylinder under standard conditions to the initial
height (Ho) of the total suspension. It was determined by keeping a
measured volume of the suspension in a graduated cylinder in an undisturbed
position for a definite period of time and noting the value of Hu and Ho.
Determination of the pH:
The
pH of each of the prepared suspension was measured using pH meter (Systronics Digital pH meter) at intervals
of seven days for 21 days ( i.e. initial, 7th
, 14th, 21st Days)
Redispersibility:
Fixed volume of each
suspension (50 ml) was poured into calibrated tubes, which were stored at room
temperature for 3 weeks. At the end of each week one tube from each
concentration was shaken at constant moderate rate of 30 shakes /min. The time
taken to redisperse the sedimented
suspension was noted. The method essentially consisted of holding the sample
tube straight in upright position between two fingers with thumb at the bottom
and the middle finger at the top followed by the almost uniform rotation
through 1800 and brought back through the same path. The pair of
successive upward and downward movement each of approximately equal force,
constituted one complete shake. The number of shakes required for complete
elimination of sediment from the bottom of the tube was recorded. At this
juncture the sample was observed for homogenecity of
the suspension and the total time recorded to redisperse
the sedimented suspension.
Table-1: Determination of Sedimentation volume (F):
|
Days |
Acacia |
Tragacanth |
Linseed mucilage |
|||||||||
|
1% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
1% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
1% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
|
|
0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
3 |
0.46 |
0.51 |
0.57 |
0.82 |
0.49 |
0.56 |
0.88 |
0.95 |
0.64 |
0.74 |
0.89 |
0.96 |
|
6 |
0.45 |
0.50 |
0.56 |
0.81 |
0.48 |
0.55 |
0.87 |
0.95 |
0.63 |
0.73 |
0.88 |
0.96 |
|
9 |
0.44 |
0.50 |
0.56 |
0.81 |
0.47 |
0.55 |
0.87 |
0.94 |
0.62 |
0.72 |
0.88 |
0.96 |
|
12 |
0.43 |
0.50 |
0.56 |
0.81 |
0.47 |
0.55 |
0.87 |
0.94 |
0.62 |
0.72 |
0.88 |
0.96 |
|
15 |
0.43 |
0.50 |
0.56 |
0.81 |
0.47 |
0.55 |
0.87 |
0.94 |
0.62 |
0.72 |
0.88 |
0.96 |
|
18 |
0.43 |
0.50 |
0.56 |
0.81 |
0.47 |
0.55 |
0.87 |
0.94 |
0.62 |
0.72 |
0.88 |
0.96 |
Sedimentation volume, F = Hu/Ho
Table-2 : Determination of rate of Redispersibility
|
Duration |
Concentration |
Acacia |
Tragacanth |
Mucilage |
|
7th day |
1% |
14.7 ± 0.28 |
13.8 ± 0.02 |
12.2 ± 0.03 |
|
2% |
13.8 ± 0.42 |
12.5 ± 0.12 |
11.8 ± 0.14 |
|
|
3% |
13.5 ± 0.08 |
11.9 ± 0.21 |
11.2 ± 0.07 |
|
|
4% |
13.3 ± 0.89 |
11.5 ± 0.62 |
11.1 ± 0.43 |
|
|
14th day |
1% |
14.8 ± 0.04 |
13.9 ± 0.05 |
12.1 ± 0.04 |
|
2% |
13.9 ± 0.12 |
12.6 ± 0.13 |
11.8 ± 0.13 |
|
|
3% |
13.5 ± 0.05 |
11.9 ± 0.08 |
11.2 ± 0.03 |
|
|
4% |
13.3 ± 0.14 |
11.5 ± 0.74 |
11.1 ± 0.81 |
|
|
21st day |
1% |
14.8 ± 0.13 |
13.9 ± 0.02 |
12.1 ± 0.01 |
|
2% |
13.9 ± 0.42 |
12.6 ± 0.12 |
11.8 ± 0.57 |
|
|
3% |
13.5 ± 0.09 |
11.9 ± 0.09 |
11.2 ± 0.03 |
|
|
4% |
13.3 ± 0.09 |
11.5 ± 0.02 |
11.1 ± 0.90 |
Values are expressed in mean ± SD, n= 3
Table-3 : Determination of pH
|
Duration |
Acacia |
Tragacanth |
Linseed |
|
0 day |
5.1 |
4.8 |
5.0 |
|
7 day |
5.3 |
5.0 |
5.3 |
|
14 day |
5.4 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
|
21 day |
5.5 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
RESULT AND DISCUSSION:
The dried mucilage from the linseed was found to be 7.89 % w/w.
The characteristics of good suspending agent shows that lesser the rate of
sedimentation it is better suspending agent and in case of Redispersibility,
the good suspending agent shows to take
less time to redisperse the sediments. The
sedimentation profile of the suspension prepared with linseed mucilage, acacia
and tragacanth are shown in Table No. 1-3. Since the
suspension produces sediment on storage it must be readily dispersible so as to
ensure the uniformity of the dose. If sediment remains even after shaking
vigorously for specified time, the system is described as caked. The
suspensions prepared with mucilage have shown to take less time to redisperse as compared to Acacia and tragacanth.
It was observed that dispersed particles of CaCo3 in suspension
prepared with varying concentration of suspending agents was found to sediment
at slower rate irrespective of their concentration, F values of mucilage (3.0
%) were comparable with 4.0% concentration of Acacia which indicate better
suspending agent than acacia and
comparable with tragacanth. The pH of suspension prepared
with mucilage, acacia and tragacanth was found to
slightly acidic (Table No.3) and on storage for 21 days suspension has shown to
increases up to pH 5.5, 5.2 and 5.4 respectively.
CONCLUSION:
The natural
suspending agent holds advantages over synthetic agent because they are
nontoxic, less expensive and freely available. In view of these properties, linseed mucilage can be employed as
stabilizer and thickener of choice when high viscosity is desired especially in
cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
We are very much thankful to Shri.Yashwantraoji
Gadakh Patil, President of Mula Education Society, Sonai for providing necessary facilities during our
research works.
REFERENCE:
1.
Zografi G., Schott H. and Swarbrick
J., Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences 18th Ed, 1990:257
2.
Martin A., Swarbrick J., and Cammarata A. Physical Pharmacy, 3rd Ed; 1991: 465, 544–553
3.
Banker S.G. and Rhodes C.T. Modern Pharmaceutics. 3rd Ed; 1998: 305–318
4.
Whistler R.L. Industrial gums, Academic press, New York, 2nd
Ed; 1973: 1
5.
Mitra A., Bhattacharya D, Role of flax and flax gum in
health and diabetes, Indian Journal for the practicing doctor; 2009: 5, 19-22
6.
Ravi Kumar, M. B. Patil, Sachin R. Patil, Mahesh S. Paschapur, Evaluation of Abelmoschus
Esculentus Mucilage as Suspending Agent
in Paracetamol Suspension, International
Journal of Pharmtech research; 2009: 1 658-665
7.
Leon Lachman, Herbert A.,
Lieberman, Joseph L., Kanig The
Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy; Third edn.
: 487-492.
8.
Minker E, Bogdanova S.V. Linseed
mucilage as water in oil-type emulsifier. Farmatsiya;
1973: 23 13-19
9.
A.S. Mann, N.K. Jain and M.D. Kharya,
Evaluation of the Suspending Properties of Cassia tora Mucilage on Sulphadimidine Suspension, Asian Journal of
Experimental Sci., (21):1,2007, 63-67
10.
B Anroop, SP Bhatnagar, B Ghosh, V Parcha, Studies on Ocimum gratissimum seed mucilage
: evaluation of suspending properties, Indian
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 67(2):2005, 206-209
Received
on 09.01.2010
Accepted on 24.03.2010
© A&V Publication all right reserved
Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.
2(3): May-June 2010, 208-210