Formulation and Evaluation of Mucoadhesive Tablet of Metformin HCl using Jack Fruit Latex (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

The concept of mucoadhesion is one that has the potential efficiency to improve the highly variable residence times experienced by drugs and dosage forms at various sites in the gastrointestinal tract, and consequently, to reduce variability and improve efficacy. Intimate contact of the drug with the mucosa should enhance absorption. Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack fruit) is one of the most evergreen trees in tropical areas and widely grown in Asia including India. The latex contains 71.8% resins consisting of 63.3% yellow fluavilles and 8.5% white albanes. The dried latex yields Artostenone, convertible to Artosterone, a compound with androgenic action. The work accomplished so far reveals that jackfruit latex possesses the desirable properties required for a polymer to be used as mucoadhesive agent/binder. The flow properties of the latex as well as that of granules depicted by its compressibility index, Hausner's ratio, Kawatika factors, angle of repose etc. are found to be within the desired range. Moreover FTIR spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetric study has shown that there was no chemical interactions between the drug and latex neither there is prominent endothermic decrease of melting point of the drug due to presence of latex in the powder mixture. Investigation in terms of in-vitro dissolution study, comparative mucoadhesion study, compatibility study with the selected formulation, stability study etc reveals that Jackfruit latex has potential to act as natural binder in mucoadhesive solid dosage form (tablet) and can also be suitably used for formulating tablets.