Exploring the disintegration mechanism of dissolved natural plant products tablets based on pore structure control

[Display omitted] •The impact of porosity variation on disintegration of NPP tablets was evaluated for the first time.•NPP tablet attributes, disintegration kinetics, and wicking changed significantly with increasing porosity.•Pore size structure was identified as a direct driver for the disintegration of NPP tablets based on MIP and XµCT techniques.•The understanding regarding the microscopic pore structure and disintegration mechanism of NPP tablets was established. Porosity variations have an impact on the disintegration behavior of tablets whereas the influence on the disintegration characteristics of natural plant product (NPP) tablets has not been extensively studied. Revealing the pore structure of NPP tablets provides a new and important clue to elucidate the phenomenal behavior and underlying mechanisms of tablet disintegration. In this study, the effect of porosity variation on disintegration of NPP tablets was evaluated for the first time. The disintegration performance of NPP tablets was evaluated using tablet attributes, disintegration kinetics, and the wicking process. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and X-ray computed microtomography (XμCT) were used to characterize the microstructure of the tablets. Curcuma Longa Linn. extractions were compacted into tablets with different solid fractions. Tablet qualities changed significantly with increasing porosity. An increase in the wicking rate with porosity changed by visualizing the wicking process. The disintegration kinetics of tablets showed a sensitive variation after an increase in porosity. The pore structure of tablets including parameters such as pore size distribution, tortuosity, and connectivity were identified as direct drivers of wicking and disintegration. The current study provides new insights into the disintegration mechanism of dissolved NPP tablets by exploring the evolution of the pore microstructure.