Physicochemical Characterization ofGrewia ferrugineaHochst. ex A. Rich Mucilage for Potential Use as a Pharmaceutical Excipient

Abstract

Gum and mucilages from natural sources are in recent times increasingly investigated for pharmaceutical applications. Different studies have shown that the gum and mucilage fraction of various species of the genus Grewia were found to be effective viscosity enhancers, stabilizers, disintegrants, suspending agents, gelling agents, bioadhesives, film coating agents, and binders. However, no study has been conducted on the potential use of Grewia ferruginea mucilage (GFM) as a pharmaceutical excipient. Therefore, this study was aimed at characterizing the Grewia ferruginea bark mucilage for its potential use as a pharmaceutical excipient. The mucilage was extracted from the Grewia ferruginea inner stem bark through aqueous extraction, precipitated with 96% ethanol, dried, and powdered. The powdered mucilage was characterized for different physicochemical properties such as powder property, loss on drying, solubility and swelling index, ash value, pH, viscosity, moisture sorption property, microbial load, and acute oral toxicity. According to the results, the percentage yield of the final dried and powdered GFM was found to be 11.96% (w/w). The density and density-related properties of the mucilage showed good powder flow property. The GFM exhibited pseudoplastic flow behavior. Moisture sorption property of GFM revealed its hygroscopic nature, and its solubility and swelling property was increased with temperature. The pH of GFM was near neutral. Microbial load of the mucilage was within the pharmacopoeial limit, and the oral acute toxicity test revealed that the mucilage is safe up to 2000 mg/kg. From the investigations of this study, it can be concluded that Grewia ferruginea bark mucilage has the potential to be utilized as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations.

Compositional analysis and physicochemical evaluation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) mucilage for medicinal purposes

“…Properties of mucilage(s) are reflective of their significance, functional attributes and constituents. For instance, our recorded pH of purified date palm mucilage (6.72) shows that it would be more suitable to use because pH nearer to neutral pH indicates that date palm mucilage would be less irritating to mucosal membrane and formulations formed by date palm mucilage at this pH would be comparatively more stable ( Haile et al, 2020 ). Similarly, pH of 1% w/v aqueous solution of crude (6.64) and purified (6.72) mucilage is slightly acidic indicating the presence of cations ( Murray et al, 2000 ).…”

Plant-Based Gums and Mucilages Applications in Pharmacology and Nanomedicine: A Review

“…The microbial load of mucilage was pharmacological, and acute oral toxicity testing showed that mucus is safe up to 2000 mg/kg. From the results of this study, it could be concluded that Grewia ferruginea bark mucilage can be used as an adjunct in medicinal formulations [ 112 ].…”

A Cost-Effective Extraction Method for Improved Physicochemical, Rheological and Microbiological Properties of Grewia mollis gum

“…5 Alobo and Arueya also obtained a lower yield of 18% for their Grewia venusta samples as mucilage was collected immediately after immersion of the stem barks in water without heat treatment. 22 Haile's group reported product yield of 11.96% for Grewia ferruginea after soaking the stem barks in water at room temperature for 48 h. 23 These findings revealed that the product yield may be dependent on the species of Grewia processed as well as the processing conditions.…”