orally to alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Mucoadhesive nature of these system could
be due to the OH groups in both of the biopolymers which lead to form hydrogen
bonding with mucous biological membranes. Excellent ability to induce chemical
interaction with mucous membrane, fenugreek seed mucilage based formulations
might enhance bioavailability of drugs, higher gastric retention and effective contact
between mucous membrane and the therapeutic agent resulting in number of
re-administration of the drug (Nayak and Pal 2014). Glimepiride-loaded mucoadhesive composite beads are made up of carboxymethyl fenugreek galactomannan,
gellan gum and calcium silicate. Enhanced drug entrapment efficacy, constant drug
release and hypoglycemic activity of glimepiride beads were confirmed from
in vivo and in vitro studies (Bera et al. 2018).
Momin et al. 2015 developed a bilayer tablet of venlafaxine. Sustained and
bioadhesive layers of tablet were formed using combination of fenugreek seed
mucilage (FNM) and xanthan gum, carbopol, hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose
(HPMC). The batch containing FNM:HPMC (80:20) displayed substantial bioadhesive force and tablet adhesion retention time as 2.4 ± 0.028 g and 24 ± 2 h,
respectively. Optimized formulation obtained from this study showed enhanced
drug release profile than marketed formulation Venlor XR. It was observed that
enhanced concentration of fenugreek seed mucilage favoured bioadhesion and
bioadhesive rention time of the formulations (Momin et al. 2015).
From the above studies it is clear that there were no significant alterations in
drug release rate when fenugreek mucilage/gum is added with any other natural/
synthetic polymers. This property promotes the ability of fenugreek mucilage/gum
to be used as a potential biopharmaceutical excipient for oral route of
administration.
11.4.4 Matrix Forming Agent
Application of polysaccharides extracted from fenugreek seed in matrix formulation
containing propranolol hydrochloride was evaluated by Nokhodchi et al. (2008). In
this investigation biopolymer extracted from the seeds of fenugreek compared with
Methocel
® hypromellose K4M, a conventionally applied matrix forming agent. An
increase in fenugreek seed mucilage concentration in matrix formulation retarded
propranolol diffusion from the matrix. Addition of lactose to the matrix formulation
enhanced the pore size and reduce tortuoisity as a result water diffuses into the
tablet by increasing drug release rate. Fenugreek mucilage observed to be a better
retardant at concentration 66% (w/w) than hypromellose of equivalent content.
Iurian et al., utilizes freeze drying method to develop fenugreek seed mucilage
based oral lyophilisates containing meloxicam as a model drug. It was observed that
rise in mucilage concentration retards disintegration of therapeutic agent from the
matrix. Longer disintegration time and higher crushing strength was noticed in the
case of fenugreek-based tablets than gelatin based tablets produced under same
conditions (Iurian et al. 2017). Enhancement in disintegration time with increase in
11 Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Fenugreek Gum
393
be due to the OH groups in both of the biopolymers which lead to form hydrogen
bonding with mucous biological membranes. Excellent ability to induce chemical
interaction with mucous membrane, fenugreek seed mucilage based formulations
might enhance bioavailability of drugs, higher gastric retention and effective contact
between mucous membrane and the therapeutic agent resulting in number of
re-administration of the drug (Nayak and Pal 2014). Glimepiride-loaded mucoadhesive composite beads are made up of carboxymethyl fenugreek galactomannan,
gellan gum and calcium silicate. Enhanced drug entrapment efficacy, constant drug
release and hypoglycemic activity of glimepiride beads were confirmed from
in vivo and in vitro studies (Bera et al. 2018).
Momin et al. 2015 developed a bilayer tablet of venlafaxine. Sustained and
bioadhesive layers of tablet were formed using combination of fenugreek seed
mucilage (FNM) and xanthan gum, carbopol, hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose
(HPMC). The batch containing FNM:HPMC (80:20) displayed substantial bioadhesive force and tablet adhesion retention time as 2.4 ± 0.028 g and 24 ± 2 h,
respectively. Optimized formulation obtained from this study showed enhanced
drug release profile than marketed formulation Venlor XR. It was observed that
enhanced concentration of fenugreek seed mucilage favoured bioadhesion and
bioadhesive rention time of the formulations (Momin et al. 2015).
From the above studies it is clear that there were no significant alterations in
drug release rate when fenugreek mucilage/gum is added with any other natural/
synthetic polymers. This property promotes the ability of fenugreek mucilage/gum
to be used as a potential biopharmaceutical excipient for oral route of
administration.
11.4.4 Matrix Forming Agent
Application of polysaccharides extracted from fenugreek seed in matrix formulation
containing propranolol hydrochloride was evaluated by Nokhodchi et al. (2008). In
this investigation biopolymer extracted from the seeds of fenugreek compared with
Methocel
® hypromellose K4M, a conventionally applied matrix forming agent. An
increase in fenugreek seed mucilage concentration in matrix formulation retarded
propranolol diffusion from the matrix. Addition of lactose to the matrix formulation
enhanced the pore size and reduce tortuoisity as a result water diffuses into the
tablet by increasing drug release rate. Fenugreek mucilage observed to be a better
retardant at concentration 66% (w/w) than hypromellose of equivalent content.
Iurian et al., utilizes freeze drying method to develop fenugreek seed mucilage
based oral lyophilisates containing meloxicam as a model drug. It was observed that
rise in mucilage concentration retards disintegration of therapeutic agent from the
matrix. Longer disintegration time and higher crushing strength was noticed in the
case of fenugreek-based tablets than gelatin based tablets produced under same
conditions (Iurian et al. 2017). Enhancement in disintegration time with increase in
11 Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Fenugreek Gum
393