Assessment of Suspending Properties of Katira Gum: Formulation and Evaluation of Nimesulide Suspension

Abstract

There are several hydrophilic polymers that have been employed as suspending agents in pharmaceutical suspensions due to their ability to form colloidal gel in aqueous medium. In the present study, katira gum obtained from the bark of Cochlospermum religiosum has been evaluated as suspending agent in nimesulide suspension and compared with acacia gum at concentration of 1-5%. Sedimentation volume, rheology, particle size, degree of flocculation and in-vitro drug release were employed as assessment parameters. The result showed that at all concentrations, katira gum higher suspending capability compared acacia gum. The sedimentation volume was found to increase from 0.36 to 1 (A1-A3) and 0.26 to 0.56 (B1-B3). The viscosity of suspensions (A1 and A2) containing gum katira as suspending agent was found to be 1.35 and 2.4 centipoise and 0.63- 1.05 centipoise (B1- B3). Plots between shear stress and rate of shear were plotted using different concentrations indicates the obedience to newtonian behaviour. Degree of flocculation of gum katira and gum acacia suspension was established to be 1.69 and 1.05 respectively.