Patcharin Karnjanachotdumrong . Development of effervescent granules and pellets containing Phyllanthus emblica L. fruit extract. Master's Degree(Manufacturing Pharmacy). Chulalongkorn University. Office of Academic Resources. : Chulalongkorn University, 2007.
Development of effervescent granules and pellets containing Phyllanthus emblica L. fruit extract
Abstract:
Ma-kham-pom (Phyllantus emblica L.), a plant of the Euphobiaceae, is a deciduous tree native to Southeastern Asia. Its pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, hypolipidaemic, hepatoprotective, antitussive, antipyretic and analgesic activities have been reported. The objectives of the present study were to develop effervescent granules and pellets containing Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract, and investigate the physicochemical properties and stability of the products. The Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract was used in the form of spray dried powder. The physicochemical properties and microbial limit of the extract were determined. The results showed that the extract had poor flowability and its 1% solution showed pH around 3. The microbial limit of the extract complied to Thai pharmacopoeia. The effervescent granules were prepared by dry mixing the granules of the extract, acesulfame potassium and mannitol, with citric acid and alkalines. The effects of formulation variables, i.e. levels of the extract, levels of citric acid, levels of colloidal silicon dioxide, types of alkaline, on the properties of effervescent granules were studied according to the center of gravity design. The products were yellowish, free-flowing and could disperse in water within 5 min. After storage at 40OC, 75% relative humidity and 30OC, 75% relative humidity, in many cases, caking and/or formation of large agglomerates occurred. Change in the physical property was not directly related to change in the total tannins and gallic acid contents in the formulation; and the cause of this has not been identified. The analysis of variance showed that there were significant main and interaction effects of the levels of formulation variables on loss on drying, and the total tannins and gallic acid contents (p<0.05). Pellets containing the extract, acesulfame potassium, citric acid and mannitol were prepared by extrusion-spheronization process, based on full factorial designed experiment. It was found that to form pellets, the wet mass of low level, 20%, of the extract required greater amount of water than the wet mass of high level, 40%, of the extract. The pellets produced from the low level of the extract were round, while produced from the high level of the extract remained dumbbell-shape. After storage at 40OC, 75% relative humidity and 30OC, 75% relative humidity, change in color of pellets was clearly observed for the pellets containing the high level of the extract. There was significant main and interaction effects of the levels the extract, acesulfame potassium and citric acid on loss on drying and gallic acid content (p<0.05). These variables, except for the level of the extract, also significantly influenced on total tannins content (p<0.05). The results signify that there is possibility of developing effervescent granules and pellets containing Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract. The potential for successful development partly relies on the properties of the extract as reflected in physical stability of many effervescent granules containing 30% extract and pellets containing 20% extract. The impact of the extract properties and effect of formulation variables on the product stability still need to be further investigated.