Evaluation of honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos Linn.) gum as sustaining material in tablet dosage forms

In this study, honey locust gum (HLG) obtained from Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust) beans was investigated as a hydrophilic matrix material in the tablets prepared at different concentrations (5% and 10%) by wet granulation method. Theophylline was chosen as a model drug. The matrix tablets containing hydroxyethylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as sustaining polymers at the same concentrations were prepared and a commercial sustained release (CSR) tablet containing 200 mg theophylline was examined for comparison of HLG performance. Physical analysis on CSR tablet, matrix tablets and their granules before compression were performed. According to the results obtained from dissolution studies in distilled water, pH 1.2 HCl buffer and pH 7.2 phosphate buffer, no significant difference was found between CSR tablet and the matrix tablet containing 10% HLG in each medium (P > 0.05) and these tablets showed zero-order kinetic model in all the mediums.