Acta Pharm. 52 (2002) 53-60

Formulation and evaluation of bioadhesive granules of theophylline
formulated from mucuna and prosopis gums

MICHAEL U. ADIKWU,^1*  NGOZI D. OKOLI¹  and   JOSEPH E. OJILE²

misunn@aol.com

¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
²Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Theophylline granules were prepared with mucuna and proposes gums as well as with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) at pre-determined bioadhesive concentrations of 10, 2.5 and 5% m/m, respectively. SCMC was used as the standard. Various properties of the granules, including drug release, were evaluated. The drug release pattern was mainly affected by variation in the gum concentration. The results obtained indicate that mucuna and prosopis gums can be used to formulate bioadhesive granules for intestinal delivery of theophylline.

Keywords: theophylline, bioadhesive granules, mucuna gum, prosopis gums