%0 Journal Article
%T Evaluation of LD50 of Cashew Gum and the Comparative Study of its Functionality in Cotrimoxazole Granule and Tablet Formulations
%A Ebere I. Okoye
%A Anthony O. Onyekweli
%A Omotola O. Fatoki
%J British Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology
%D 2012
%I Maxwell Science Publication
%X This study evaluated the level of contamination of cashew gum, its acute toxicity in rabbits and its functionality in cotrimoxazole granule and tablet formulations in comparison to three standard binders (polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin and corn starch BP). The level of contamination was determine using physical and microbiological tests, while the acute toxicity was studied using Lorke¡¯s method and the granules were formulated via wet granulation and characterized micromeritically. Subsequently, the granules were compacted using a force of 15 KN and the resulting tablets subjected to all the compendial and non-compendial quality control tests. The results indicated that the contaminants in cashew gum were safe and within acceptable levels and the gum was not toxic in rabbits even at the dose of 5000 mg/kg. Granules formulated with cashew gum exhibited the best micromeritic properties, in comparison to the standards between 2 and 4% w/w binder concentrations, respectively. Furthermore, all the formulated tablets, except those formulated with gelatin at 4 and 5% w/w met the compendial and noncompendial requirements for good quality conventional tablets. In all the tests conducted, there were no significant differences between the properties of granules and tablets formulated with cashew gum or polyvinylpyrrolidone (p>0.05). Finally, since cashew gum possessed very low level of inorganic and microbial contaminants and is nontoxic, it may be economically worthy to exploit it for pharmaceutical purposes.
%K Cashew gum
%K functionality in cotrimoxazole granules
%K LD50
%K tablets
%U http://www.maxwellsci.com/jp/abstract.php?jid=BJPT&no=227&abs=03