Abstract

TALC : A VERSATILE PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT

Jadhav NR*, Paradkar AR, Salunkhe NH, Karade RS, Mane GG

ABSTRACT

The present review highlights meticulous account of talc with respect to extraction from mines, purification, pharmaceutical and other applications. Talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate having a chemical composition of Mg3Si4O10 (OH)2. It has been found in metamorphic belts containing ultramafic rocks. The various techniques have been used for talc mining viz straight forward drill, blast and open pit operations which are followed by crushing with the help of jaw crusher, cone crusher or impact crusher. Talc can be produced by hydration and carbonation of various minerals. Talc demonstrates the high functionality because it has been used as filler, lubricant and glidant in the pharmaceutical formulations as well as in cosmetic formulations as abrasive, absorbent, anticaking agent, opacifying agent and skin protectant. Now a day, It has been explored as a dissolution retardant in the controlled release products as well as a novel substrate for pellet design due to its physicochemical, physiological inert and inexpensive nature. Due to these attractive features, the wet spherical agglomerates of talc have been used as a substrate for coating and also have been used as a diluent in crystallo-co-agglomeration (CCA). Use of such high functionality excipient gives better products with lower costs, shorter time to market, and extended product lifecycle. India is a country having huge stores of rocks producing talc, hence, it's a need to systematically explore the talc for various novel pharmaceutical applications, so as to assist development of cost effective pharmaceutical formulations.

Keywords: Applications, Mining, Processing, Purification, Talc.