that of both gum tragacanth and bentonite. Even, zinc oxide suspensions prepared
using Basella alba L. leaves mucilage as suspending agent were found easy
redispersible. Nayak et al. (2010) assessed the suitability of spinach (Spinacia
oleracea L.) leaves as suspending agent in zinc oxide (20% w/v) suspensions. The
spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves mucilage as suspending agent showed better
degree of flocculation and redispersibilty than those of both gum tragacanth and
bentonite. The same research group also studied the suitability of fenugreek
(Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed mucilage as suspending agent in zinc oxide
(20% w/v) suspensions (Nayak et al. 2012). The fenugreek seed mucilage performed as better suspending agent exhibiting better degree of flocculation and
redispersibilty than those of gum tragacanth, gum acacia and bentonite.
Piriyaprasarth et al. (2010) studied the uses of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)
starch and yam (Dioscorea sp.) starch as suspending agents in paracetamol suspension. From the results of the study, it was noticed that the optimal concentrations
of arrowroot starch was 5–6% and yam starch was 7–8% as suspending agents in
paracetamol suspensions. Khunkitti et al. (2006) evaluated the use of jackfruit seed
starch as suspending agent and jackfruit seed starch (1–5% w/v) was found able to
flocculate titanium dioxide suspensions.
3.3.3 Tablets
Since long different plant polysaccharides are being extensively used in many
pharmaceutical tablets as binders, disintegrating agents, matrix formers, and release
retardants. The excellent binding property of these materials is due to their adhesive
characteristics, which impart cohesiveness to the powdered mass to prepare granules, which are used for further compression in the preparations of tablets. Plant
polysaccharides are also employed as disintegrating agents in many tablets
(Prajapati et al. 2013). The disintegrating property of plant polysaccharides is
attributable to their capability to absorb water and swelling. Plant polysaccharides
are also being employed as matrix formers, and release retardants in many sustained
drug releasing tablets, especially in matrix tablets. Because of the hydrophilic and
high swelling ability, when the matrix tablets containing plant polysaccharides
come in contact with water, these get highly hydrated and produce viscous gels onto
the surface of the tablets, which produce sustained drug releasing over a longer
period.
In a study, Menon et al. (2011) studied the application of orange peel pectin as
tablet binder in ibuprofen tablets and they found tablets prepared using 30 mg
orange peel pectin exhibited better friability and disintegrating time. Even, these
tablets (prepared using 30 mg orange peel pectin as binder) exhibited 82%
ibuprofen releasing, in vitro, and were comparable to that of the same amount of
starch. In another study, Srivastava et al. (2010) also found the excellent tablet
binding property of orange peel pectin in the formulations of paracetamol tablets.
Jena et al. (2014) studied the usefulness of gum odina as tablet binder to prepare
3 Plant Polysaccharides in Pharmaceutical Applications
101
using Basella alba L. leaves mucilage as suspending agent were found easy
redispersible. Nayak et al. (2010) assessed the suitability of spinach (Spinacia
oleracea L.) leaves as suspending agent in zinc oxide (20% w/v) suspensions. The
spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves mucilage as suspending agent showed better
degree of flocculation and redispersibilty than those of both gum tragacanth and
bentonite. The same research group also studied the suitability of fenugreek
(Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed mucilage as suspending agent in zinc oxide
(20% w/v) suspensions (Nayak et al. 2012). The fenugreek seed mucilage performed as better suspending agent exhibiting better degree of flocculation and
redispersibilty than those of gum tragacanth, gum acacia and bentonite.
Piriyaprasarth et al. (2010) studied the uses of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)
starch and yam (Dioscorea sp.) starch as suspending agents in paracetamol suspension. From the results of the study, it was noticed that the optimal concentrations
of arrowroot starch was 5–6% and yam starch was 7–8% as suspending agents in
paracetamol suspensions. Khunkitti et al. (2006) evaluated the use of jackfruit seed
starch as suspending agent and jackfruit seed starch (1–5% w/v) was found able to
flocculate titanium dioxide suspensions.
3.3.3 Tablets
Since long different plant polysaccharides are being extensively used in many
pharmaceutical tablets as binders, disintegrating agents, matrix formers, and release
retardants. The excellent binding property of these materials is due to their adhesive
characteristics, which impart cohesiveness to the powdered mass to prepare granules, which are used for further compression in the preparations of tablets. Plant
polysaccharides are also employed as disintegrating agents in many tablets
(Prajapati et al. 2013). The disintegrating property of plant polysaccharides is
attributable to their capability to absorb water and swelling. Plant polysaccharides
are also being employed as matrix formers, and release retardants in many sustained
drug releasing tablets, especially in matrix tablets. Because of the hydrophilic and
high swelling ability, when the matrix tablets containing plant polysaccharides
come in contact with water, these get highly hydrated and produce viscous gels onto
the surface of the tablets, which produce sustained drug releasing over a longer
period.
In a study, Menon et al. (2011) studied the application of orange peel pectin as
tablet binder in ibuprofen tablets and they found tablets prepared using 30 mg
orange peel pectin exhibited better friability and disintegrating time. Even, these
tablets (prepared using 30 mg orange peel pectin as binder) exhibited 82%
ibuprofen releasing, in vitro, and were comparable to that of the same amount of
starch. In another study, Srivastava et al. (2010) also found the excellent tablet
binding property of orange peel pectin in the formulations of paracetamol tablets.
Jena et al. (2014) studied the usefulness of gum odina as tablet binder to prepare
3 Plant Polysaccharides in Pharmaceutical Applications
101