FABRICATION AND EVALUATION OF METFORMIN HCL TABLETS USING NATURAL POLYMERS AND EXCIPIENTS

Abstract

The oral route of administration of drugs is the most important method for achieving systemic effects. In the process of absorption of drug from oral route dissolution is the rate limiting step. Since the drug belongs to BCS class III, it is necessary to retard dissolution to ensure extended release of drug¹. Metformin hydrochloride² is an anti diabetic, having an elimination half-life of 5±2 hrs. The objective of the study is to prepare Metformin HCl Tablets using Natural Polymers and different concentrations of excipients. The tablets were subjected to thickness, weight variation test, drug content, hardness, friability, and in vitro release studies. All the tablet formulations showed acceptable properties and complied with in-house specifications for tested parameters. The results of dissolution³ studies indicated that formulation MF3 and MF4 could extend the drug release up to 12 hours. The successful formulation of the study, exhibited satisfactory drug release (MF3 and MF4) was compared with the marketed formulation (Bigomet SR^® and showed very close to release profile, which suggests sustained/controlled release profile.