Abstract

EFFECT OF PROBIOTICS ADDITION AND SHELLAC COATING ON IN-VITRO RELEASE OF FLUOROURACIL FROM GUAR GUM MATRIX TABLETS FOR COLON SPECIFIC DELIVERY

Ghosh PK, Thakur Namarta, Rathore MS*

ABSTRACT

Aim of present research work was to evaluate the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) release from guar gum matrix tablet upon addition of probiotics and shellac coating for development of efficient colon specific drug delivery system. Guar gum matrix tablets (40% guar gum) were prepared and evaluated for drug release. The matrix tablets were formulated with three different probiotics (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus sporogenes) and drug release was studied. Further, the tablets were also coated with varying concentration of shellac solution (5% or 10% or 15 % w/v).The results showed that tablets coated with 10 % shellac solution were able to retard the drug release for first five hours while these released major portion (above 80%) in phosphate buffer saline (pH 6.8) at the end of 24 hours in the in-vitro drug release studies. From above work it may be concluded that matrix tablets coated with 10 % shellac solution that contain probiotics may be employed successfully for colon specific delivery to ensure maximum drug release at colon even in patients with disturbed gastrointestinal microflora.

Keywords: Guar Gum, Probiotics, Colon, Drug Delivery.