Effect of Adansonia digitata Gum on Some Physicochemical Properties of Paracetamol Pediatric Suspension Formulations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Adansonia digitata (AD) as a suspending agent in pharmaceutical formulations using paracetamol as the model drug. Paracetamol pediatric 125 mg/5ml suspensions containing AD at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 % w/v as suspending agent were formulated. Similar formulations of paracetamol pediatric suspension were made using sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC) as the suspending agent. Some physicochemical properties of the paracetamol pediatric suspensions such as viscosity, easy of redispersion and sedimentation volume were evaluated. The viscosity of the suspension formulations ranged from 71-119 cP, which was a function of the concentration and type of suspending agent as well as the duration of storage of the suspension. Sedimentation volume, ease of redispersion and the flow rate of the formulations were characteristic of the suspending agent used and were influenced by the concentration of the agent. Overall, the profiles of paracetamol pediatric suspension formulations containing AD were better than those of Na CMC irrespective of the concentration of the suspending agent. At the same time the internal phase in all the formulations remained suspended for well enough time to assure withdrawal of accurate and uniform doses during the period of therapy.It was concludedthat AD gum could be a potential suspending agent in formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions.