Disintegration, Hardness and Dissolution Profiles of Paracetamol Tablets Formulated using Sucrose and Formaldehyde Cross-Linked Starches

Background: Native starches have some limitations such as the inability to withstand some processing conditions, poor flow, packing and compressibility. Cross-linking of starch is one of the methods used to overcome these drawbacks to obtain derivatives with better and desirable properties. This study is aimed at assessing the utilisabilty of sucrose and formaldehyde cross-linked starches obtained from Zea mays, Triticum aestivum, and Oriza sativa as an excipient for paracetamol tablet formulation. The formulated tablets were evaluated for hardness, disintegration and drug release rate.

Results: The formulated tablets had hardness in the range of 4.35 – 6.37 Kgf. Tablets produced from the native starches had significantly (P < 0.05) lower disintegration time compared to their respective cross-linked starches. The disintegration time of the tablets from the cross-linked starches was in the following order, modified rice starch tablets > modified maize starch tablets > modified wheat starch tablets. The optimal batches containing the modified starches released over 90% of the drug within 40 min.

Conclusion: Sucrose and formaldehyde cross-linked starches obtained from Zea mays, Triticum aestivum, and Oriza sativa could serve as possible excipients for paracetamol tablets formulation.