Comparison of Aloe Vera Gel and Aloe Vera Powder on Physical Properties of Ranitidine Mucoadhesive Microgranules

Aloe vera product is well known for medicinal, cosmetic properties, and polymer for pharmaceutical industry. Aloe vera gel may be employed to effectively deliver poorly absorbable drugs through the oral route of drug administration. Ranitidine hydrochloride is a drug of choice in the treatment of ulcer. The drug has a short biological half-life of approximately 2-3 hours, thus a sustained release dosage form of ranitidine HCl is desirable. The aim of this study was to compare Aloe vera gel and Aloe vera powder as polymer mucoadhesive. The obtained results indicated that aloe vera powder has physical properties better than aloe vera gel. Drying process of aloe vera powder is important to improve their stability which performed by less of moisture content, increase of flow rate, swelling index, in vitro mucoadhesive, and dissolution. Aloe vera powder is a suitable polymer for local delivery in the gastrointestinal tract.