A Study of Pharmaceutical Applications of Hemicelluloses From Nine Food Materials

Abstract

Objective: This study is aimed at evaluating the release-extending, film-coating, suspending, and thickening properties of various food-derived hemicelluloses, as natural alternatives to synthetic excipients for use in pharmaceutical tablets and suspensions. Background: Hemicelluloses are partially digestible biopolymers with superior biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustainability compared to synthetic and cellulose-based semisynthetic materials. This study focused on the evaluation of potential application of hemicelluloses as environmentally friendly, highly biocompatible pharmaceutical excipients. Methods: The hemicelluloses were isolated from Acacia nilotica (AN), Lallemantia royleana (LR) seeds, Plantago ovata husk (POh), Plantago ovata seeds (POs), Ocimum basilicum (OB) seeds, Salvia plebian (SP) seeds, Astragalus tragacantha (AT), Mimosa pudica (MP) seeds, Acacia modesta (AM), and Cydonia oblonga (CO). Acetaminophen was used as a model drug.

Tablets were prepared via wet granulation and direct compression, and various parameters, including flow, hardness, film- coating strength, and drug release characteristics, were evaluated. Rheology and sedimentation volume were determined for

suspensions. Results: The granules for tablets exhibited good flow properties, and the matrix tablets prepared through wet granulation and direct compression exhibited hardness in the range of 2–7 kg cm−2

, with disintegration times between 1.18 and 25.0 min at pH 6.8. Wet granulated tablets released 45%–92% of acetaminophen in ~7 h, and the film coatings showed a strength of 35– 40 kg m s−2 . The suspensions demonstrated excellent stability for over 2 months without the need for redispersion, with sedimentation volumes ranging from 90% to 92%, except for those containing AT. The stability trend for suspensions was observed as SP >OB > AN> AM > CO> Poh > POs > LR > MP > AT. Notably, the prepared suspensions were more stable than the standard Calpol. Conclusion: Hemicelluloses from natural sources show potential as effective tablet binders, extended-release agents, film-coating materials, and suspending/thickening agents in pharmaceutical formulations. These findings highlight their promise as sustainable and biocompatible alternatives to synthetic/semisynthetic excipients.