Use of seed gums from Tamarindus indica and Cassia fistula as controlled-release agents

Essential oils loaded carboxymethylated Cassia fistula gum-based novel hydrogel films for wound healing

Carboxymethylated Cassia fistula gum (CCFG) and citric acid (CA) based wound healing film, (CCFG-CA) was developed using the solvent casting method. Glycerol was added as a plasticizing agent. The synthesized Carboxymethylated Cassia fistula gum cross-linked citric acid based hydrogel film (CCFG-CA) was evaluated morphologically, thermally, and structurally using FESEM, TGA, XRD and FTIR. Three essential oils (EO), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and thuja (Thuja occidentalis L), known for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, were loaded into the CCFG-CA film to develop essential oils loaded carboxymethylated Cassia fistula gum cross-linked citric acid based hydrogel film (CCFG-CA-EO). In vitro studies (MTT assay, disk diffusion assay, permeability tests and DPPH assay) confirm the biocompatibility, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties of the CCFG-CA-EO film. In vivo (wound healing studies on wistar rats and their histology) shows 99 % of wound healing and re-epithelialization in 14 days. Degradability (within 15 days), protein adsorption (12.05 μg/mL) and contact angle determination (69.43°ׄׄ ± 0.48) tests confirmed the potential of CCFG-CA-EO as an effective wound-healing material.

Recent advances in modifications of exudate gums: Functional properties and applications

Gums are high-molecular-weight compounds with hydrophobic or hydrophilic characteristics, which are mainly comprised of complex carbohydrates called polysaccharides, often associated with proteins and minerals. Various innovative modification techniques are utilized, including ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted techniques, enzymatic alterations, electrospinning, irradiation, and amalgamation process. These methods advance the process, reducing processing times and energy consumption while maintaining the quality of the modified gums. Enzymes like xanthan lyases, xanthanase, and cellulase can selectively modify exudate gums, altering their structure to enhance their properties. This precise enzymatic approach allows for the use of exudate gums for specific applications. Exudate gums have been employed in nanotechnology applications through techniques like electrospinning. This enables the production of nanoparticles and nanofibers with improved properties, making them suitable for the drug delivery system, tissue engineering, active and intelligient food packaging. The resulting modified exudate gums exhibit improved rheological, emulsifying, gelling, and other functional properties, which expand their potential applications. This paper discusses novel applications of these modified gums in the pharmaceutical, food, and industrial sectors. The ever-evolving field presents diverse opportunities for sustainable innovation across these sectors.

Evaluation of Cassia fistula seed galactomannan as tablet-binder in formulation of diclofenac sodium-loaded monolithic matrix tablet

The present study aimed to evaluate Cassia fistula seed galactomannan (CFSG) as a tablet-binder in the formulation of a monolithic matrix tablet using diclofenac sodium as a model drug. Initially, CFSG was extracted and purified from the seeds of the Cassia fistula tree and then screened for phytochemicals. Native CFSG was characterized with polysaccharide content determination, monosaccharide composition analysis, elemental analysis, FTIR, solid-state 13C NMR, molecular weight, zeta potential, DSC, TGA-DTA, XRD, viscosity, pH and surface tension, rheology, SEM and acute oral toxicity study. Prior to formulation, the drug-CFSG compatibility was checked by FTIR, DSC, and XRD. Diclofenac sodium-loaded granules were prepared by the wet granulation method and evaluated for various granule properties. Finally, granules were compressed into tablets and evaluated for binding and other tablet properties. The granules showed to have optimum micromeritic properties. Tablet hardness and friability were found to be approximately 7 kg/m2 and 0.3 %, respectively, which substantiate the excellent binding capacity of CFSG. Other tablet properties were also found to be within the Pharmacopoeial compliance limit. The tablets with a minimum concentration of CFSG (2.5%w/w) as binder showed appreciable mechanical strength and faster drug release, which ratifies CFSG as an alternative tablet binder.

Quality by Design Approach for Optimization of Microbial and pH-Triggered Colon-Targeted Tablet Formulation Using Carboxymethyl Tamarind Gum

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to apply the quality by design (QbD) approach in the development of a microbial and pH-triggered colon-targeted budesonide tablet. A retrospective research strategy was used to select various polysaccharide-based natural gums such as tamarind gum, gellan gum, karaya gum, gum ghutti, and khaya gum, which were then evaluated for their effectiveness in microbial degradation and targeting the colon. Viscosity profiles were generated in the presence of a prebiotic culture medium prepared by using the Velgut capsule that mimicked the impact of 4% rat cecal content and helpful in screening of natural polymer. Based on the cumulative drug release data of preliminary batches, carboxymethyl (CM) tamarind gum was identified as a superior and an excellent polymer over the tamarind gum for formulation development. The presence of water as a bridging agent in wet granulation also played an important role in the retardation of drug release. Tablets were supercoated with the enteric polymer, Eudragit S100. The Box-Behnken design was utilized, where the selected independent variables were the proportion of CM tamarind gum, % water proportion, and % weight gain of Eudragit S 100 to optimize the formulation. The optimized design space was generated with the criteria that a drug release should be of less than 5% within the first 2 h, less than 10% within the first 5 h, and more than 70% within the first 8 h, to achieve colon targeting. The optimized batch F3 was found stable as per International Council for Harmonisation guidelines. The roentgenography study for optimized formulation demonstrated that it remained intact for 5 h and, at 7 h, was disseminated completely. CM tamarind gum is efficient for colon targeting, and its proportion in 100 mg along with an enteric coating of 6% led to the optimized formulation.

HPMC films functionalized by zein/carboxymethyl tamarind gum stabilized Pickering emulsions: Influence of carboxymethylation degree

Pickering emulsions are promising systems to act as carriers of active hydrophobic components, and to improve compatibility and the water vapor barrier properties of bio-based films. This study aimed to investigated the effects of cinnamon essential oil Pickering emulsions (CEOEs) using zein/carboxymethyl tamarind gum as stabilizers on the mechanical, barrier, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) films, and assessed the influence of carboxymethylation degree. In addition, the effect of the packaging was studied on the shelf life of cherry tomatoes. Results showed that the droplet size reduced approximately from 93.03 to 10.59 μm with the increasing degree of substitution (DS), greatly facilitating the droplet uniform distribution in film matrix. Moreover, with the addition of CEOEs, significant increase was observed with the tensile strength from 8.46 to 25.41 MPa, and the water vapor permeability decreased from 6.18 × 10^-10 to 4.24 × 10^-10 g·m^-1·s^-1·Pa^-1. The films exhibited good UV barrier properties without sacrificing the transparency after adding CEO. Furthermore, the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the prepared films have also been greatly improved. Consequently, the CEOEs was an ideal alternative for incorporation with HPMC based films for increasing the shelf life of cherry tomatoes.

Using carboxymethyl gum from Tamarindus indica and Cassia fistula seeds with Chromolaena odorata leaf extract to develop antibacterial gauze dressing with hemostatic activity

Background and purpose:

Gauze dressing is a barrier against microbial infection in wounds. The seed gums of Tamarindus indica and Cassia fistula are abundant in tropical countries; we used them as a coating material of cotton gauzes to improve the liquid absorption ability. Moreover, Chromolaena odorata leaf extract was loaded on the gums for antibacterial gauze dressing with hemostatic activity.

Experimental approach:

Crude gums were extracted from T. indica and C. fistula seeds and carboxymethyl gums were then derived and chracterized. C. Odorata ethanolic extract was also prepared by maceration and its antimicrobial and blood clotting activities were determine coated gauze dressing containing different concentrations of carboxymethyl gum was prepared in the presence of various concentrations of C. odorata extract. Then, the physical properties, antibacterial activity, and skin-irritating effects of the coated gauze were analyzed.

Findings/Results:

The results indicated that the amount of carboxymethyl gum affected the physical properties and absorption capacity of the coated gauze. C. odorata extract exhibited better bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus than against Escherichia coli. The blood clotting effects of C. odorata extract indicated that it had dramatic hemostatic efficacy. The coated gauze exhibited bactericidal activity against S. aureus. In the human skin irritation test, the coated gauze caused no adverse effects on human skin.

Conclusion and implication:

Coated gauze has the potential to serve as a prototype for primary hemostasis in first aid for opened wounds such as abrasions and lacerations.

Formulation of Extended-Release Beads of Lamotrigine Based on Alginate and <i>Cassia fistula</i> Seed Gum by QbD Approach

AIM

This study was focused on the formulation of the multi-unit extended-release peroral delivery device of lamotrigine for better management of epilepsy.

BACKGROUND

The single-unit extended-release peroral preparations often suffer from all-or-none effect. A significant number of multi-unit delivery systems have been reported as a solution to this problem. But most of them are found to be composed of synthetic, semi-synthetic or their combination having physiological toxicity as well as negative environmental impact. Therefore, fabrication and formulation of multi-unit extended-release peroral preparations with natural, non-toxic, biodegradable polymers employing green manufacturing processes are being appreciated worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

Lamotrigine-loaded extended-release multi-unit beads have been fabricated with the incorporation of a natural polysaccharide Cassia fistula seed gum in calcium-cross-linked alginate matrix employing a simple green process and 23 full factorial design.

METHODS

The total polymer concentration, polymer ratio and [CaCl2] were considered as independent formulation variables with two different levels of each for the experiment-design. The extended-release beads were then prepared by the ionotropic gelation method using calcium chloride as the crosslinkerions provider. The beads were then evaluated for drug encapsulation efficiency and drug release. ANOVA of all the dependent variables such as DEE, cumulative % drug release at 2h, 5h, 12h, rate constant and dissolution similarity factor (f2) was done by 23 full factorial design using Design-Expert software along with numerical optimization of the independent variables in order to meet USP-reference release profile.

RESULTS

The optimized batch showed excellent outcomes with DEE of 84.7 ± 2.7 (%), CPR2h of 8.41± 2.96 (%), CPR5h of 36.8± 4.7 (%), CPR12h of 87.3 ± 3.64 (%) and f2 of 65.9.

CONCLUSION

This approach of the development of multi-unit oral devices utilizing natural polysaccharides might be inspiring towards the world-wide effort for green manufacturing of sustained-release drug products by the QbD route.

Oral nanoparticles based on gellan gum/pectin for colon-targeted delivery of resveratrol

Nanoparticles based on gellan gum/pectin blends were designed for colon-targeted release of resveratrol (RES). Their impact on drug release rates and permeability were evaluated using Caco-2 cell model and mucus secreting triple co-culture model. Polymeric nanoparticles (PNP) were successfully prepared by nebulization/ionotropic gelation, achieving high drug loading (>80%). PNP were spherical with a low positive charge density (+5mV) and exhibited diameters of around 330 nm. Developed PNP were able to promote effective modulation of drug release rates, so that only 3% of RES was released in acidic media over 2 h, and, in pH 6.8, the drug was released in a sustained manner, reaching 85% in 30 h. The permeability of RES-loaded PNP in the Caco-2 model was 0.15%, while in the triple co-culture model, in the presence of mucus, it reached 5.5%. The everted gut sac experiment corroborated the low permeability of RES-loaded PNP in the presence or absence of mucus and highlighted their high ability to interact with the intestinal tissue. Results indicate that the novel PNP developed in this work are safe and promising carriers for controlled delivery of RES at the colon.

Special issue: Pharmaceutical innovation

"Pharmaceutical innovation" is an interdisciplinary area of the pharmaceutical sciences including drug development with a focus on manufacturing, process control, and technology, among many other subfields of research. In this special issue, we have invited all participants attended the International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology 2018 under the theme of pharmaceutical innovation and translational research for human health, held in Bangkok during January 24-25, 2018, to submit the research papers and after peer-review process, 10 of them were selected.