Preparation and evaluation of in-house fabricated floating tablets of black pepper extract

In folk medicine, Black pepper (Piper nigrum) has found its role as a hepato protective agent, diaphoretic, stomachic and for its aromatic properties. Ayurvedic medicine uses pepper extensively as bio-enhancer. It is known to have antioxidant, antiulcer activity and gastro protective effects. Helicobacter pylori is identified as gastric carcinogen and known to cause gastric cancer through injecting CagA, avirulent toxin, followed by its translocation into Vac A. The present study was designedfor development as well as evaluation of Pepper extract floating tablets for the management of peptic ulcers due by H. pylori. In the current experiment, we have developed gastro-retentive floating tablets of standardized pepper extract. Directly compressed were subjected to evaluation for various in vitro parameters. Floating tabletscontaining ingredients viz Pepper extract, HPMC K100Mhydrophilic polymer, colophony as hydrophobic polymer were used. Sodium bicarbonate was used to generate gas. Lubricants such as Talc and Magnesium stearate were used and to improve compressibility, Lactose was utilized. Directly compressed tablets were then subjected to evaluation. Formulations were optimized based on buoyancy time and considering drug release in vitro. The formulation 3 with the ingredients viz, pepper extract, lactose, HPMC K100M, sodium carbonate, talc, magnesium stearate and colophonyshowed good floating behavior along with improved controlled drug release in comparison with other formulations. We conclude that, the developed formulations can be effectively used to treat ulcers and in the prevention of gastric carcinogenesis.