Main Article Content
Studies on the physicochemical and functional properties of microcrystalline cellulose obtained from Khaya grandifolia wood flakes
Abstract
This study was aimed at developing pharmaceutical grade microcrystalline cellulose from Khaya grandifolia wood flakes as a tablet excipient. The microcrystalline cellulose coded KG-MCC, was obtained from Khaya grandifolia wood flakes by a two-stage sodium hydroxide delignification process followed by sodium hypochlorite bleaching and acid hydrolysis. KG-MCC was examined for its physicochemical and powder properties. The powder properties of KG-MCC were compared to those of best commercial microcrystalline cellulose grade, Avicel PH 101. The extraction yield of KG-MCC was approximately 18%. The cellulose material was composed of irregularly shaped fibrous cellulose particle with a moisture content of 5.6%. The true density was 1.36. The flow indices showed that KG-MCC flowed poorly. The hydration and swelling capacities were 2.9 and 57.9% respectively. The study revealed that the cellulose material compares favourably with Avicel PH 101 as well as official requirement specified in the British Pharmacopoeia 1993 for microcrystalline cellulose.
Keywords: Khaya grandifolia, microcrystalline cellulose, physicochemical properties
Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 1-7