ABSTRACT Pharmaceutical manufacturing inform of liposomal delivery has one of the most important approaches to improve the cellular uptake and subsequent bioavailability of drugs and as such phospholipon was chosen as a binder and studied for its effectiveness by comparing with microcrystalline cellulose and corn starch using wet granulation method. Wet granulation method using phospholipon, corn starch and microcrystalline cellulose as a binder was employed. The compressed tablets were evaluated for the following physicochemical characteristics; general appearance, weight variation, friability, hardness, disintegration and in vitro drug release studies. The release pattern of 1% dispersion of phospholipon in water has met the USP specification, in which more than 80 % of paracetamol tablet was released at 30 minutes. The release pattern of the drug was observed to be time dependent at the duration of time used. In addition, the amount of drug released by phospholipon and corn starch at 60 minutes interval was greater than 100%. The tablets obtained in this study have an approximate average weight which is within the limit of the percentage deviation allowed by USP. The tablets showed a slight variation in diameter and thickness which is within the BP limits and hence negligible. In the present study, the observed hardness for phospholipon and MCC were within the USP specification (4 to 8 kgF), whereas for corn starch, the value were above the USP specification. The percentage friability of the MCC was similar to that of the phospholipon, whereas for corn starch, the value was lower. The disintegration time of phospholipon was found to be higher than the two formulations. The binding capacity of phospholipon at low concentration for drug delivery especially in the formulation of paracetamol tablets was assessed and found to be better than microcrystalline cellulose and corn starch. This amply justifies the current use of phospholipon as a binder in many pharmaceutical formulations. Keywords: Phospholipon, 4-acetomidophenol, Binder, Tablet.

ABSTRACT Activated cow bone powder was evaluated and found suitable as a diluent in the formulation of low and high dose drugs. This study was conducted in order to compare the diluent properties of dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and activated bone powder (ABP) in the formulation of high dose drugs. The mixed powders were pelletized with the specac pelletization machine, using a compaction force between 10-20 metric tonnes. A sample weight of 666 mg of the granules was used to calibrate the volumetric fill of the die using 12.5 mm punch and die set. The appropriate compression force which varied from 10-20 metric tonnes was applied to compress the granules into tablets. The formulated metronidazole tablet was evaluated for properties such as weight uniformity, thickness, crushing strength, friability, disintegration and organoplastic. Compressibility of the pellets increased with decrease in particle size fractions, and the ABP compressibility was found to be higher than that of DCP. The crushing strength of compacts formed, decreased with increase in initial particle size fraction. The disintegration times were within the acceptable time limit. The hardness of the tablets containing same formulation with ABP compared with DCP was higher in all cases. The friability values of formulations I and II of the tablets ranged between 0.4 to 0.8%, all within the value of not more than 1% standard, normally fixed by most tablet manufacturing industries. The tablet weight variations of <2% showed that the weights of the tablets were uniform. Activated cow bone powder was found to be better direct compressible diluents than the commercially available dicalcium phosphate for high dose drugs such as metronidazole. Keywords: Formulation, Metronidazole, Activated bone powder.

ABSTRACT Spermacoce hispida L. is one of the medicinally important plant belonging to the family Rubiaceae and commonly termed as Nathaichuri in Tamil. This study was designed to screen the phytochemicals from whole plant extracts of Spermacoce hispida L. Screening of secondary metabolites revealed the presence of active compounds such as acids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, cyanin, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, quinines, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids and triterpenoids. These bioactive compounds have many applications in antioxidant, anticancer, anti- inflammatory and anti-ulcer properties. Methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, hexane and aqueous extracts were concentrated and analysed by GC-MS, which showed some of the major phytochemicals present in desired quantity (mg/g). Keywords: Spermacoce hispida, phytochemicals, methanol extract, GC-MS analysis.

ABSTRACT The limited solubility of drugs is a challenging issue for industry, during the development of the ideal solid dosage form unit. Liquisolid technique is a novel and promising approach to overcome this consequence. According to the new formulation method of liquisolid compacts, liquid medications such as solutions or suspensions of water insoluble drugs in suitable non-volatile liquid vehicles can be converted into acceptably flowing and compressible powders by blending with selected powder excipients. Water-miscible organic solvent systems with high boiling point like propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols, or glycerine are the suitable liquid vehicles. Liquisolid system is characterized by flow behavior, wettability, powder bed hydrophilicity, saturation solubility, drug content, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, in-vitro release and in-vivo evaluation. By using this technique, solubility and dissolution rate can be improved, sustained drug delivery systems be developed for the water soluble drugs. This review article explains the preparation, classification and application of liquisolid system. Keywords: Liquisolid technique, Carriers, Coating materials.