Current study is to develop the colon targeted matrix tablet using the natural polysaccharide sterculia gum as carrier and model drug ciprofloxacin HCl. The matrix tablets were prepared by wet granulation technology using the various proportions of sterculia gum with carbopol 934 P, sterculia gum and ethyl cellulose polymer blends. Granules of all formulations were evaluated for rheological, post compressional properties and in vitro dissolution study in different pH buffers of pH 1.2 , pH 7.4 , pH 6.8 (saline phosphate buffer) without and with 4% rat cecal content in order to mimic GIT condition . Formulation SGC2 to SGC4 and SGE7 to SGE9 has released 13.6% to 38.9% in the initial 5h and released more amount of drug in stomach and small intestine than colon. Formulation SGC5 containing 45% of sterculia gum and 25% carbopol 934 p and Formulation SGE10 containing 45% of sterculia gum and 25% ethyl cellulose has released minimum 10.91 % to 13.04 % in the initial 5h and sustained the drug release up to 24 h and at the end of study released 75% to 79.99%. Formulations with 4% rat cecal content at the end of 24 h study drug released is 90.44% to 95.33% indicating higher amount of drug release is due to enzymatic break down of sterculia gum in the matrix tablet. Hence the above results conclude that the formulation SGC5 and SGE10 are potential in targeting the drug to colon to treat irritable bowel disease.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i11.12064 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 1(11): 376-383

In spite of good advancement for diagnosis and treatment, cancer is the second most common disease after cardiovascular disorders, may be responsible for maximum deaths in the world. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Among cancers, colon or colorectal cancer is the second most common form of cancer globally with 916,000 deaths reported annually. Colon is the largest part of large intestine extending from ileocecal junction to anus. The delivery of drugs to the targeted site such as colon requires protection to the drug. As the most of the drugs are unstable in the gastric environment of the stomach and are susceptible to absorb in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This causes poor drug bioavailability and diminishes their efficacy against inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Thus, to deliver a drug to the targeted site such as colon via GIT requires protection from an undesirable release in the upper GIT to achieve maximal pharmacological effect, while administered orally. As a consequence, protection of drugs can be achieved by xylan-based hydrogel polymeric carriers, which are of non-toxic and biocompatible nature, and which can also undergo in-vivo biodegradation easily.