Abstract

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF METRONIDAZOLE MATRIX TABLETS FOR COLON TARGETING

Kalyani Velpula, Anusha Kusuma, Krishna Mohan Chinnala, Sudheer Kumar Dundigalla

Abstract

Targeting of drugs to the colon by the oral route could be achieved by different approaches including matrix and coated systems. The method by which the drug release will be triggered by the colonic flora appears to be more interesting with regard to the selectivity. Metronidazole is only one antibiotic used in colonic diseases.[13] Matrix tablets of Metronidazole were prepared by wet granulation method. Xanthan gum, guar gum, and HPMC K100M were used as a carrier, starch was used as diluents and the mixture of talc and magnesium stearate was used as lubricant. Formulations (F1 to F4) contain drug and polymers (xanthan gum, guar gum) ratio in 1:1. Formulations (F5 to F7, F8) contain drug and polymers ratio in 1:1.5, 1:2. Formulations (F9, F10) contain guar gum and HPMC K100M. All the prepared formulations were evaluated and subjected to in vitro drug release studies. The amount of metronidazole released from the tablets at different time intervals was estimated by UV spectrophotometer. Metronidazole tablets prepared by using xanthan gum, guar gum as polymers were subjected to dissolution studies. The tablets showed the 100% drug release in less than 5 hours. Formulations (F1 to F4) were subjected to dissolution studies they showed 30% - 60% of drug release in pH 1.2. Formulations (F5 to F7) were able to retard drug release in pH 1.2. Where as they showed 30-40% drug release in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer. Guar gum combination with HPMC K100M (F9, F10) formulations retarded the drug release more than that of guar gum and xanthan gum combination in pH 1.2. The tablets containing guar gum with HPMC K100M (F9 -1.5:0.5) were optimized, showed good lag time of 4 hrs and released 16.87% drug at 4th hr.

Keywords: Colon Targeted, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, HPMC K100M, Metronidazole, Matrix Tablets.