Physicochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Gum as a Binder in Tablet Formulation.

Binders are ingredients used in tablet granulation process for tablet cohesiveness which confirms that the tablet remains intact after compression. Natural gums have been employed as disintegrants, emulsifying agents, suspending agents, and binders in tablets. Even though gum is claimed as a possible pharmaceutical excipient by some phytochemical studies, literature is scanty on its efficacy as a tablet binder. The purpose of this study was to isolate, characterize, and comparatively evaluate gum as a potential binder in tablet formulation. Gum was extracted from tree, characterized for physicochemical properties, and applied as a binder in paracetamol granule and tablet formulation. Granules were prepared using 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% w/w concentration of the gum and standard binders (polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 and Starch1500) by wet granulation. The formulated tablets were then evaluated for tablet quality parameters, and comparison between the test and standard binders was done by ANOVA. The dried crude gum yielded 50.63% (w/w) of a brownish yellow purified gum. The angle of repose, Carr's index, and the Hausner ratio all complied with the pharmacopoeial recommendations. The gum is compatible with the model drug, paracetamol. The paracetamol granules prepared with gum binder demonstrated an optimum size range and size distribution with substantial flow and compressibility properties. gum binder demonstrated significantly higher disintegration time and strength properties than that of similar concentrations of Starch1500 but lower than polyvinylpyrrolidone ( < 0.05). gum has better binding properties than starch but lower than polyvinylpyrrolidone. Hence, gum can be used as an alternative tablet binder in tablet manufacturing.