Mahmud et al., Nig. Journ. Pharm. Sci., March, 2009, Vol. 8 No. 1, P.

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Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Vol. 8, No. 1, March, 2009, ISSN: 0189-823X
All Rights Reserved
EVALUATION OF THE SUSPENDING PROPERTIES OF KHAYA
SENEGALENSIS GUM IN PARACETAMOL SUSPENSIONS
*

Mahmud, H S., Oyi, A.R and Allagh, T

Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

*Author for Correspondence:

mhszubair@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The suspending properties of Khaya senegalensis gum were evaluated comparatively with those of Acacia
sieberiana and Acacia senegal gums at a concentration range of 0.2 to 5.0%w/v in 2.4%w/v paracetamol
suspension. Acacia senegal was used as the reference standard. The parameters employed for evaluation
were sedimentation volume, particle size, rheology and crystal growth analysis. Khaya senegalensis gum at
5.0%w/v as compared to the two acacia gums produced a stable, re-dispersible, flocculated suspension free
from crystals throughout the storage period of 8 weeks while the acacia gums dissolved most of the
dispersed solids. The results suggest that Acacia sieberiana at concentrations above 5%w/v may be used to
dissolve paracetamol powder and; khaya gum has potential to suspend paracetamol and may provide a
substitute excipient in the liquid formulation of paracetamol and perhaps curb the problem of paediatric
mortalities associated with organic chemicals used as solubilizing agents in paracetamol.
Key words: Khaya senegalensis gum, Acacia sieberiana gum, suspending agent, sedimentation volume,
rheology, crystal growth.

The slight solubility of paracetamol in

aqueous medium has made it a candidate
for suspension which will require the
inclusion of a suspending agent, most
preferable a natural gum. Gums are
natural polymers, characterized by
properties such as low toxicity, high
stability and biodegradability which
make them useful as potential
pharmaceutical excipients (Anekant,
2007).
Acacia sieberiana (Family
Fabaceae)
gum
is
abundant
commercially in Jigawa and Bauchi
states of Nigeria and currently not used
for any pharmaceutical purpose. The
ready availability of Khaya senegalensis
gum obtained from the incised trunks of

INTRODUCTION
Paracetamol is the most widely used and
readily available antipyretic and
analgesic. Paracetamol for paediatric use
is currently formulated as syrup. This is
because it is readily dissolved in
propylene glycol; however this does not
preclude it from the attendant high cost
and importation problem associated with
obtaining this solvent. Recently, a toxic
substitute such as Di ethylene glycol has
been used to solubilize paracetamol
powder, and has led to the death of 88
children nation wide (Sunday trust,
2008). Formulation of paracetamol in
another dosage form for use by children
may proffer a solution to this problem.
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carry out the viscosity test on the

suspensions. Immediately, the viscosity
of the suspension was measured using
the Brookfield viscometer (Model. DV- I
Prime, England).
The suspension was transferred into
three 100ml bottles and three 50mlmeasuring cylinders. The measuring
cylinders were stoppered and put on a
vibration- free surface and stored at 28 30C.

Khaya senegalensis plant (Family

Meliaceae) in Nigeria, its high viscosity
and pseudoplastic flow pattern (
Mahmud et al., 2008), these summed up
together prompted the interest in
exploring them for use as suspending
agents in paracetamol suspension.
Hitherto, little or no work has been
carried out on khaya gum as a
suspending agent in paracetamol
suspension in comparison with another
locally sourced gum Acacia sieberiana
and Acacia senegal, a standard reference
but Khaya senegalensis gum has been
evaluated for its binding ability
(Mgbahurike and Igwilo, 1992) in solid
formulation.

Sedimentation volume and rates

Quality and stability of the suspensions
were
assessed
by
determining
parameters such as sedimentation
volume and rates. Sedimentation volume
of the suspensions was determined by
measuring the volume of the sediments
in the suspension placed in the
measuring cylinders, on daily basis for 7
days and thereafter weekly for 8 weeks.
The
sedimentation
volume
was
calculated using the formula
F = Vu / Vo X 100----------- equation 1
Where, Vu = ultimate volume of
sediment and Vo = original volume of
sediment before settling occurred.
Graphs of sedimentation volume were
plotted against time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Formulation of suspensions
Suspensions of Paracetamol (BDH
Chemicals, Poole, England) were
formulated using 0.2 - 5.0%w/v
concentrations of Acacia senegal (BDH
Chemicals, Poole, England), Acacia
sieberiana (Ministry of Forestry Jigawa
State, Nigeria) and Khaya senegalensis
(dried exudates from khaya trees grown
around Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state,
Nigeria) purified gum powders as
suspending agents (Mahmud et al.,
2008).
Chloroform (Sigma-Aldrich, Germany)
water, double strength and 0.1% benzoic
acid were used as preservative in the
formulation. The solid components of
the formulation were finely triturated
using mortar and pestle. The suspending
agent (acacia or khaya mucilage) was
added to the powdered drug and
triturated until homogeneous slurry was
obtained. This was transferred into a 100
ml beaker and the preservative solution
was used to rinse the mortar and made
up the required volume. A 600ml
suspension was also prepared in order to

Rheological assessment
Viscosities of the prepared suspensions
were determined using a Brookfield DV
I prime digital viscometer. The guard leg
and spindle were inserted into the fluid
medium and the viscometer was sheared
at different speeds of 10, 20, 50 and 100
r.p.m. at room temperature. Viscosity
values were recorded for different speeds
of rotation. Graphs of viscosity versus
speed of rotation were plotted.
Microscopical examination
Samples of the suspensions formulated
using the gums as suspending agents

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were microscopically examined for

crystal growth under a metallurgical
microscope (Model. NJF- 120A). A
drop of each sample was put on a slide
and placed on the stage of the
microscope. The objects were viewed at
X100 magnification from the screen
attached. The photomicrographs were
printed out.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

As shown in Fig. 1, at 5% w/v
concentration, both A.senegal and A.
sieberiana were unable to disperse and
retain the drug particles in the different
layers of the formulation. The values of
sedimentation volume ratio (F) obtained
for the suspensions containing A.
senegal and A. sieberiana were 0.04 and
0.0 respectively; as a result dissolution
of the disperse phase. However, when
K.senegalensis was used as suspending
agent, particles of paracetamol were
suspended in the formulation with F
value = 0.56. The proportion increasing
as the concentration of the suspending
agent increased. The flow patterns
exhibited by all the three formulations
were pseudo plastic. An indication that,
the suspensions will be re dispersible
(Ram, 2004).

Particle size analysis

The particle sizes of the formulated
suspensions were measured using
microscopic
method.
Drops
of
suspensions were separately put on
slides and placed on the (pre-calibrated)
stage of the microscope. Using the
graticles placed in the eye-pieces,
particle sizes of 100 particles were
measured, and from which the mean
particle sizes were later computed.

Sedimentation volume (cm

120
100
80

Control
A. sen

60

A.sieb
K.sen

40
20
0
0

14

21

28

35

42

49

56

Time (days)

Figure 1: Sedimentation volume of paracetamol suspension formulated with 5%w/v

concentrations of A. senegal, A. sieberiana and K. senegalensis gums

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30
A.sen

Viscosity (m.pas)

25
A.sieb
20

K.sen

15
10
5
0
10

20

50

100

Speed (R.P.M)

Figure 2: Effect of speed of rotation on the viscosity of paracetamol suspension

formulated with varying concentrations of test gums

Photo micrographs of paracetamol

suspensions prepared using 5% w/v
concentrations of suspending agent
are shown in Fig. 3. At 5%
concentration of Khaya gum, no

crystals were formed as compared to

the same concentration for both
Acacia gums; which formed crystals,
indicating
instability
in
the
formulation (Carter, 2005).

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Mahmud et al., Nig. Journ. Pharm. Sci., March, 2009, Vol. 8 No. 1, P. 129 131

Ia K. senegalensis

Ib K. senegalensis

IIa A. senegal

IIb. A. senegal

IIIb A. sieberiana

IIIa A. sieberiana

Figure 3: Show Plates of Paracetamol suspension on day 1(Ia, IIa & IIIa) and
day 14 (Ib, IIb & IIIb) of formulation containing 5.0 %w/v concentration of the
test gums

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Mahmud et al., Nig. Journ. Pharm. Sci., March, 2009, Vol. 8 No. 1, P. 128 134

As shown in Table 1, the particle

sizes of suspensions containing
Acacia gums were much larger than
that containing Khaya gum. This
could possibly be due to the presence
of formed crystals that developed in
the suspensions containing the acacia
gums. At 5%w/v khaya gum had
particle size < 5 m which will not
feel gritty on the tongue. The particle

size of a suspended drug is smaller

when produced, with time as a result
of temperature fluctuations; the
suspended particles grow in size or
form crystals. This is because the
solubility of the drug increases with
increase
in
temperature
but
crystallizes out on cooling. For
example slightly soluble drugs like
paracetamol (Aulton, 2007).

Table 1: Mean particle sizes of paracetamol suspension containing different gum

(s) concentration

Gum types

A.senegal
A.sieberiana
K.senegalensis

Gum

Conc.

(%w/v)

0.2
Day 1

2.0

5.0

0.2
Day 14

2.0

5.0

0.2

4.70

2.34

3.70

3.50

3.79

4.21

4.70

4.30

2.60

2.60

4.70

4.64

4.40

4.30

4.20

3.00

4.08

4.00

5.43

4.00

4.20

concentrations higher than 5%w/v may

probably serve as a local alternative
solubilizing agent in paracetamol syrup.

CONCLUSION
From the results obtained, Khaya
senegalensis
gum
at
5%w/v
concentration produced a flocculated, redispersible and crystal free paracetamol
suspension which was stable throughout
the storage period of 8 weeks while A.
senegal
and
A.sieberiana
gums
dissolved the dispersed paracetamol
powder at 5% w/v. Therefore, the locally
sourced gums, K.senegalensis has
potential to be used as suspending agent
in paracetamol suspensions and may also
curb the problem of paediatric mortality
associated with the use of "alternatives"
organic solvents such as Di ethylene
glycol.
A.
sieberiana
gum
at

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