Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF NATURALLY ISOLATED MUCILAGE FROM HIBISCUS CANNABINUS L., AS A POTENTIAL NATURAL PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT

Sushma Chaudhary, Manjul Pratap Singh, A. K. S. Rawat*

Abstract

Hibiscus cannabinus L., fruits are rich in mucilage and have great functional value. This study was performed to examine the Hibiscus cannabinus L., mucilage and its functional groups with the help of NMR Spectroscopy as a pharmaceutical excipient for pharmaceutical product development. The plant was collected and authenticated by Dr. A.K.S. Rawat (Scientist & Former Head) Department of Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacology Division CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (no 254060). The mucilage was isolated from the fruits of Hibiscus cannabinus L., All the other chemicals used were of analytical grade and distilled water was used throughout the experiments. The mucilage was found to be 9.54% w/w which was off white in colour, tasteless with characteristic odour having neutral pH 7.2±0.2, loss on drying to be 9.34 % w/w and swelling index was revealed to be 9±0.52% w/w. It was found to be soluble in hot water, insoluble in organic solvents & swelled to form a gel in cold water. The FT-IR and NMR spectra confirms the purity of mucilage and presence of polysaccharides. The results of phytochemical and physicochemical tests indicated the suitability of dosage forms due to its: flow ability, neutral pH, swelling potential, and viscous in nature. Therefore, mucilage is a plant-based natural excipient has scope to be utilized in pharmaceutical formulations for product development & it has high scientific relevance particularly as a plant-based natural excipient in pharmaceutical product development.

Keywords: Hibiscus cannabinus L., mucilage, NMR Spectroscopy, Natural pharmaceutical excipient.