PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF POWDER OF UNRIPE FRUITS OF VARIOUS VARIETIES OF MUSA PARADIASIACA L. (BANANA AND PLANTAIN) AS A TABLET DISINTEGRANT

This paper aims to evaluate the feasibility of powder of three varieties of Musa paradisiaca L. in their unripe state as tablet disintegrant while formulating Orally Disintegrating Tablet (ODT) and other fast disintegrating dosage forms. The powders obtained were characterized for flow property, compressibility, swelling capacity, hydration capacity and moisture content. ODTs (without drug) were prepared by direct compression techniques using three varieties of M. paradisiaca L. in 10% w/w concentration. The variety showing promising results (in this fixed concentration) for hardness, friability, in vitro disintegration time, wetting time and water absorption ratio was selected as potential tablet disintegrant. Dummy tablets were also evaluated for thickness and diameter. All three varieties were studied for drug excipient compatibility with Rezatriptan Benzoate as a model drug. The SP2 variety showed the most promising results and can be concluded as potential superdisintegrant from natural origin.