Design and Evaluation of Compression Coated Formulations for an Anti-inflammatory Drug Based on Modified okra Mucilage

Recently there has been greater interest in modified release systems like extended release or delayed release systems to deliver required amount of drug at specific site for duration of therapy. These systems play an important role in the chronotherapy of asthma, angina and arthritis. In the present study fast disintegrating core tablets of model drug diclofenac sodium were coated with coating material granules containing okra mucilage or modified okra mucilage in combination with HPMC K15M and evaluated for pre and post compression parameters. The in-vitro disintegration time for core tablets was 64.66±0.577 sec and the wetting time was 41.66 ±0.57 sec. All other parameters were satisfactory for core and coated formulations. Formulations P1, P2 and P3 showed drug release of 96.789 ± 0.66994 %, 100.86 ± 0.42729 % and 95.15 ±0.7180 % in 24 hrs respectively. The prepared formulations showed greater drug release after 6 hrs indicating a burst release in intestinal environment, making the formulations suitable candidates for colonic drug release. All the prepared formulations followed first order kinetics with release exponent n>1.There was no significant difference in in-vitro dissolution in presence and absence of rat caecal content indicating drug release depends on pH, swelling and erosion.