Isolation and Characterization of Borassus flabellifer Mucilage

The prospects of natural polymers are brighter as synthetic polymers have certain disadvantages such as high cost, toxicity, environmental pollution during synthesis, non renewable sources, side effects and less patient compliance. The endosperm of Borassus flabellifer contains a high proportion of mucilage and it also being used for different therapeutic purposes. However there are no reports on isolation and characterization of mucilage of Borassus flabellifer fruit. Hence, the present study was planned to isolate, purify and to characterize Borassus flabellifer mucilage. This study elucidated the physical, thermal, sorption and functional properties Borassus flabellifer mucilage were characterized viz: elemental analysis, Fourier transmittance infra red analysis, particle size analysis, thermo gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. Borassus flabellifer mucilage had a glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting peak of 96.06°C and 292.63°C, respectively. This material showed a 7.1% % loss in weight at 200oC. The sample had peaks at approximately 20o, 19o, and 18o 2θ degrees of 2-theta (θ) in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern. Elemental analysis showed that Borassus flabellifer mucilage contains 40.02, 6.289, and 1.22% of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, respectively. The results of isolated mucilage from Borassus flabellifer fruit were very promising, cheap and effective natural excipient that can be used as an effective alternative for the formulation of pharmaceutical formulations.