Evaluation of Aloe weloensis (Aloeacea) Mucilages as a Pharmaceutical Suspending Agent

Abstract

Natural polymers, specifically mucilages, have been used as a suspending agent for a long period of time. Natural excipients can serve as an alternative to synthetic products since they are less expensive, less toxic, and devoid of environmental pollution. There are many species of Aloe found in Ethiopia which can be used as a source of mucilage. In this study, mucilage from Aloe weloensis, which is found in Wollo floristic region, was extracted and tested as a suspending agent at different suspending agent concentrations and compared with standard suspending agents (acacia and sodium carboxy methylcellulose (NaCMC)) by formulating zinc oxide suspension. The mucilage obtained from Aloe weloensis leaves has shown comparable suspending agent ability with acacia. The rate of sedimentation and viscosity was higher at 1% and 4% mucilage concentrations than acacia though the difference was not significant ( p > 0.05 ). The suspension was slightly basic and easily dispersible than NaCMC. Suspensions formulated from NaCMC were superior in terms of viscosity and sedimentation volume which was significantly different ( p < 0.05 ) accompanied by lower flow rates than suspensions formulated from acacia and Aloe weloensis mucilages. The results suggested that Aloe weloensis mucilage could be used as an alternative suspending agent.

Pharmaceutical Assessment of Watermelon Rind Pectin as a Suspending Agent in Oral Liquid Dosage Forms

“…These alternative suspending agents should also be inexpensive which will in effect lower the total cost incurred in the production of the suspension. They should also be nontoxic and moreover not pose any irritations [9][10][11][12]. This study therefore seeks to evaluate the suspending properties of pectin from watermelon rind.…”

“…The currently used suspending agents from synthetic and inorganic sources are fronted with challenges such as cost, availability, sustainability, and compatibility [ 9 , 10 ]. There is, therefore, the need to find other alternative suspending agents that are from natural sources and are readily available.…”

Formulation and characterisation of low‐fat mozzarella cheese using basil seed mucilage: insights on microstructure and functional attributes

“…The 5% (v/v) mucilage slurry was prepared and subject to viscosity measurement at 30 r.p.m. using a viscometer (Baoshishan Digital Rotary Viscometer, NDJ-9S, China) as a method reported by Mengesha et al (2021). Total polysaccharide contents of BSM were determined using the phenol sulphuric acid colorimetric method (Sami et al, 2019).…”

Physicochemical and microbiological evaluation of ibuprofen suspension produced using Detarium microcarpum as suspending agent

“…4 Suspending agents can be synthetic, semi-synthetic or of natural origin. Some natural gums like okra gum 5 , tragacanth gum, Sida acuta gum 2 , Aloe elegans Mucilage 6 , Aloe weloensis mucilage 7 , Trigonella foenum graecum mucilage 4 , grewia polysaccharide gum 8 , Grewia ferruginea mucilage 9 and Brachystegia eurycoma gum 10 were used as suspending agents in the formulation of suspensions. The advantages of the use of natural gums as suspending agents when compared to synthetic ones include biocompatibility, low cost, easy availability, biodegradable and environmental friendliness.…”