Abstract

Mucilages are generally normal products of metabolism formed within the cell and may represent storage material, a water storage reservoir or protection for germinating seeds. Literature review reveals that different sources of natural mucilages have been studied and being used as pharmaceutical excipients. The present research work aimed at extraction and characterization of Cordia latifolia (Cordia) and Aegle marmelos (Bael) fruit mucilages for various physico-chemical properties and investigation of mucoadhesive ability of extracted mucilages. The mucilages were successfully extracted from the fruits of Cordia and Bael by aqueous extraction using acetone (1:3) as precipitating solvent; percent yield were found to be 19%w/w and 14%w/w respectively. The extracted mucilages were characterized for solubility, swelling index, pH, loss on drying, melting point microbial load, micromeritic properties, rheology, FT-IR and mucoadhesion. From results it was found that the extracted mucilages were polysaccharide, hydrophilic, nontoxic and thermostable. Results of swelling study concluded that, cordia mucilage has good swelling behaviour in comparision to bael mucilage hence incorporation of these materials into tablet formulations would control release profile and mucoadhesiveness. The mucoadhesive nature cordia and bael mucilage was studied by physical methods. The Cordia mucilage is more mucoadhesive than HPMC whereas Bael mucilage is less mucoadhesive than Cordia mucilage and HPMC. Hence extracted Cordia mucilages can be used in formulation of various mucoadhesive dosage forms.

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