FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF LOSARTAN POTASSIUM COMPRESSION COATED TABLETS BY OKRA GUM AS A BINDER

The purpose of the present study was to formulate Losartan potassium compression-coated tablets using okra gum as a binder along with synthetic hydrophilic polymers like various grades of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and compare the different parameters. The effect of different concentration of okra is to be used in the formulations with varying concentration of the polymers, elucidating the effect of type of polymers and its concentration on release pattern of the drug from the compression-coated tablets. Okra gum was extracted by using acetone. After subsequent evaluation of the gum and the preformulation studies of the drug, fast disintegrating core tablets were prepared. Okra gum was used as binder in varied concentrations (3%, 4% & 5%) and three different grades of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) were used in 30%, 60% & 90% concentrations to prepare compression coated tablets. Characterization was done, and the drug release pattern was compared among the batches. Preformulation studies like differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that there was no significant interaction between the drug and the polymers. The characterization of the new polymer okra showed that it has swelling properties, and in spite of being a hydrophilic polymer, it can be successfully used in sustained release formulations. Drug release was retarded successfully, which followed zero order reaction, and the best fit model was Korsemeyer Peppas model. This study provides an insight into the usage of okra gum as a rate retardant polymer, which can be successfully used as a binder in compression of tablets.