Characterization and Evaluation of the Suspending Property of Cordia obliqua gum in Paracetamol Suspension

Abstract

Abstract 
The The study aims at extracting and characterizing the gum from Cordia obliqua fruit for possible use as a 
pharmaceutical suspending agent. The fruits of Cordia obliqua were collected, washed thoroughly and prepared for 
extraction of the gum. It was precipitated with acetone and allowed to dry. The dried gum was then size reduced to a 
powder which was then characterized and used to formulate a suspension of paracetamol. Scanning electron 
microscopy revealed that Cordia obliqua gum has irregularly shaped particles mostly below 100 µm in size, the 
physicochemical properties properties of the extracted gum were within Pharmacopoeial specifications for good 
flow. The bulk, tapped and true densities of Cordia obliqua gum were 0.63, 0.75 and 1.94 respectively. The angle of 
repose, carr's index and hausner's ratio were 35.3 º, 16.7 %, 1.10 respectively, indicative of good flow property. 
Powder porosity was 19.07 %, moisture content was 11.5 %, swelling capacity and hydration capacity were found 
to be 87.5, and 8.8 respectively. The ash value was 2 % while the pH was 9.6. The Cordia obliqua, acacia and 
tragacanth gums were used as suspending agents in paracetamol suspension at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 
and 1.6 %w/v and were evaluated based on their viscosity, flow rate, sedimentation volume and pH. Cordia obliqua 
gum was found to have suspending properties that are comparable to acacia and tragacanth gums and can be used 
as alternative suspending agent