Studies on Starch Isolated from Atrocarpus Communis as a Pharmaceutical Excipient

The present study deals with extraction of starch from Atrocarpus communis (breadfruits) and evaluating its suitability for use as a tablet binder. The starch was extracted from pulp of mature unripe breadfruits. The extracted starch was evaluated for melting point, solubility, pH, particle size, loss on drying, specific gravity, particle size and micromeritic properties. Aceclofenac was chosen as model drug for formulation of tablets using the isolated starch as binder. Breadfruit starch was used in varying concentrations in preparation of aceclofenac tablets by wet granulation method. The granules were evaluated for precompression parameters, such as bulk density, tapped density, bulkiness, compressibility index, Hausner's ratio and angle of repose. The tablets were evaluated for weight variation, hardness, friability, thickness, drug content, disintegration time, in-vitro drug dissolution studies. The percentage drug content of formulations was found to be between 92.5–102.5%. The hardness of the formulated tablets was 4.6–5.5 kg/cm2. The in-vitro drug dissolution studies revealed that the formulation containing maximum concentration of breadfruit starch showed slower drug dissolution. The disintegration time was decreased and hardness was increased with increase in the concentration of breadfruit starch. Thus breadfruit starch was found to be suitable as a tablet binder.