FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT OF MATRIX TABLET OF STAVUDINE BY USING CARBOXY METHYL TAMARIND KERNEL POWDER AS A NOVEL DRUG RELEASE RETARDING AGENT

The aim of the present study was to evaluate carboxy methyl tamarind kernal powder as a novel drug release retarding agent. To evaluate the same, sustained release matrix tablets of stavudine were prepared by using HPMC K4M and carboxy methyl tamarind kernal powder, by using a direct compression technique. The formulations were prepared by using different drug: polymer ratios into formulations such as F1 to F9. The compressed tablets were evaluated for thickness, hardness, friability, drug content and in vitro dissolution rates. Formulation F6, having a hardness of 5.46 ± 0.25, showed the desired release profile for a period of 24 h in simulated intestinal fluids (pH 7.4). Kinetic data treatment indicated that the release of stavudine from the matrix tablet follows coupling of diffusion and erosion mechanisms. The study proves that the optimized sustained release tablet is capable of releasing the drug in a sustained manner for 24 h.