Formulation of Areca Nut Tablet using Cassava Starch and Swamp Taro Starch as Disintegrant:A Comparative Study

Objectives: This study formulated a tablet using cassava and swamp taro starch as disintegrant and areca nut as active anthelmintic agent; the tablet was manually compacted and its physical, mechanical and disintegrating properties were determined. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Experimental design was utilized wherein two tablet formulations were subjected to physical, mechanical and disintegrating tests. Physical properties include color, density, odor, pH and solubility; mechanical property of the tablet was also tested in terms of hardness and friability; and disintegrating property was determined using simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid. T-test was used to determine significant difference in terms of disintegration of the two tablets using IBM SPSS version 21. Findings: Results showed that the color and odor of both tablets are brown with white specks and odorless, respectively. Both tablets were insoluble to organic and inorganic solvents, but are slightly soluble to alcoholic medium; moreover, both tablets possess the same pH of 6.0. Friability tests showed high friability and a low compressive strength or hardness. Further statistical computations in terms of disintegration showed that cassava starch-based tablet is more rapid in disintegrating than swamp taro starch-based tablet regardless of simulated fluid. Application/Improvements: These findings indicate that cassava starch can be used as disintegrant, also this also highlights that direct compaction or manual compaction method of tableting gives a tablet lower hardness and higher friability. This study suggests cassava starch is more suitable as disintegrant than swamp taro, and that both starches can be used for veterinary drug development.