Compaction, flowability, and dissolution kinetics of Andrographis paniculata, Eurycoma longifolia, Labisia pumila, and Orthosiphon stamineus powders

The herbal powders included Andrographis paniculata, Eurycoma longifolia, Labisia pumila, and Orthosiphon stamineus are well known due to their therapeutic properties and usually consumed as herbal supplement that is available in different forms. The aim of this work was to investigate the compaction, flowability, and dissolution kinetics of selected herbal powders in the form of tablets and powders. A universal testing machine with forces ranging of 4.0–9.8 kN was used to compress the herbal powders in a 13 mm cylindrical uniaxial die. The compacted tablets were dissolved in three different mediums; distilled water, simulated saliva, and hydrochloric acid solution as to create the environment in drinking water, human mouth, and gastric fluid, respectively. The dissolution profile was compared based on the best fitting of mathematical model equations. The results shown that the dissolution of all selected herbal powders in all three dissolution mediums was best fitted in Korsmeyer–Peppas Model, Zero Order Kinetic Model, and Weibull Model, and tablets were completely dissolved within 2–6 min in all three mediums. It can be further tested with another type of powders. The data are essential in predicting the compaction, flow characteristics, and dissolution kinetics of herbal powders. Practical Applications Dried herbs are being used as natural remedy but their fluffy and sticky textures make them difficult to convert into a standard form of medicine like tablet or capsules. Flowablity, compressibility, and dissolution kinetics of any kind of herbal powder are the basic parameters to convert into tablet, capsule of pouch filling. Therefore, four Malaysian herbal powders were selected to process into different forms such as tablet, capsules, and cereal formulations. For this purpose, a comprehensive study has been carried out to increase the understanding of flow, compression, and dissolution characteristics of selected Malaysian herbal powders. The findings of the present study can also be applied to other herbs and leaves powders. The findings of present research work provides basic fundamentals for nutraceutical industry to produce better quality herbal powder, easy to handle, transport, and store and convert them into a standard form of tablet or capsules. ​