Preliminary investigation into the use of Pleurotus tuber-regium powder as a tablet disintegrant

Abstract

Some physical characteristics of the powder obtained from the mycelia of a giant edible mushroom, Pleurotus tuber-regium, has been determined. Its disintegrant ability in comparison with maize starch BP was also investigated in paracetamol tablets prepared via the wet granulation method. The results obtained showed that P. tuber-regium and maize starch BP have similar true, bulk and tapped density values. The Pleurotus powder however, showed superior flow, swelling capacity as well as water retention capacity to maize starch BP. The swelling capacity was three times that of maize starch BP Tablets prepared with P. tuber-regium powder disintegrated faster than those prepared with maize starch BP at concentrations below 10% w/w. At the disintegrant concentration of 10% w/w paracetamol tablets made from both Pleurotus powder and maize starch BP had similar disintegration times and dissolution profiles. It is believed that the ability of Pleurotus powder to swell by over three times its volume in the presence of water may explain its disintegrant ability. Pleurotus tuber-regium powder may therefore be used as an alternative to maize starch BP as a disintegrant in tableting.


Key words: Pleurotus tuber-regium, physical characteristics, paracetamol


Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 29-37