Adikwu*¹, M. U., Balami², A. H., Ojile², J. E. and Onaolapo², J. A.
                                      ¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria,
                                        Nsukka, Nigeria.
                                     ²Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology,
                                       Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Abstract

The compression behaviour of modified mucilage derived from Cissus populnea stem bark (okoho) has been studied. The compressional behaviours of the modified and unmodified mucilage were compared. The modified mucilage exhibited low resistance to powder consolidation prior to compression, suggestive of better compressibility at low compaction pressures than the unmodified mucilage. The acid hydrolysed okoho (10 min) showed Carr’s compressibility of 24. 16 % compared to the 20.25 % for the unhydrolysed material.  When the hydrolysis time was increased to 60 min the compressibility index reduced to 9.52 %. The value of compressibility obtained for the 10 min hydrolysis was similar to those of Avicel (28.95 %) and Sta-Rx1500 (26.58 %). There were no significant differences between the values of all the Hausner ratios calculated. The values ranged from 1.11 (acid hydrolysed 60 min) to 1.32 (acid hydrolysed 10 min). The Hausner quotients for the standard materials, Avicel and Sta-Rx1500 were 1.41 and 1. 36 respectively. The modified mucilage consolidated by plastic deformation while the unmodified mucilage showed predominant mechanical fragmentation as the mode of consolidation. The values obtained were compared with those obtained from standard materials, Avicel and Sta-Rx1500.

Key Words: Modification, Compression behaviour, Mucilage, Cissus populnea