EVALUATION OF TRAPA BISPINOSA STARCH AS AN ALTERNATIVE TABLET EXCIPIENT TO MAIZE STARCH: ASSESSMENT BY PREFORMULATION AND FORMULATION STUDIES

Starch isolated from Trapa bispinosa (Trapaceae) fruit was studied as an alternative pharmaceutical excipient to maize starch. T. bispinosa starch has been evaluated by series of tests as mentioned in Indian Pharmacopoeia before being used for evaluation. It was tested along with maize starch as an alternative excipient by performing battery of preformulation and formulation tests. Preformulation studies like sieve analysis, micrometry, flow properties, moisture content, swelling index and compatibility studies were done as per recommended procedures. The tablets were prepared by wet and dry granulation using paracetamol and aspirin respectively, with Trapa starch as binder, disintegrant, binder and disintegrant and tablets were evaluated. The results obtained for T. bispinosa starch were comparable with maize starch and the T. bispinosa starch can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient in tablets preparation.