Evaluation of Antibacterial Activities and Formulation of Black Mahlab Seeds Aqueous Extract

Black mahlab is an annual herb with a rigid, brown seeds indigenous to Sudan. Its seeds are widely used in Sudanese traditional medicine in the treatment of diarrhea and other abdominal upsets. The objective of the present study is to verify this claim in scientific manner. Therefore, the seeds were tested for in-vitro antibacterial activity and then formulated into a tablet dosage form. The water extract of the seeds was tested against common diarrheal- causing bacteria. Assays were performed using extract concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 150mg/ml, and agar well diffusion method was utilized. In formulation aspect two formulae were prepared formula- 1and formula-2 by using maize starch and polyvinyl pyrrolidine as binder respectively. Starch paste as cost effective binder was evaluated for its binding properties in comparison with polyvinyl pyrrolidine. The results obtained from evaluation of granule properties and quality control tests of the tablets for both formulae were pharmaceutically satisfactory (p 0.05). According to pharmacopoeial specifications tablets of formula-1 had less mechanical strength than those of formula-2, but rapidly disintegrated and released the content more successfully than tablets of formula-2. Therefore, tablets of formula-1 were subjected to further stability studies and positive results were obtained. The findings of the work explored tablets of formula-1 were cost- effective; with adequate strength to withstand the shocks during storage, dispensing, and handling; and release its contents for antibacterial activity successfully.