FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF A POLYHERBAL TABLET FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROMES
Keywords:
polycystic ovary syndrome, polyherbal tablet, gellan gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, wet granulation, pharmaceutical evaluationAbstract
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine-metabolic disorder in which reproductive; metabolic and psychological features may coexist. Herbal products are widely investigated as complementary approaches; however, pharmaceutical quality must be established before biological efficacy can be meaningfully assessed. Objective: To formulate and compare polyherbal tablets containing equal quantities of Withania somnifera, Cinnamomum verum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Zingiber officinale and Mentha piperita using HPMC, PVP, gellan gum (GG), or GG:PVP combinations. Methods: Twelve 750-mg formulations (F1-F12) were prepared and evaluated for powder-flow indices and tablet physical properties. Results: Carr’s index ranged from 7.84% to 12.00%, Hausner ratio from 1.07 to 1.15, and angle of repose from 22.4° to 25.8°, indicating generally favorable flow. Average tablet weights were 0.750-0.761 g. Marked formulation-dependent differences were observed in hardness (2.96-9.26 kg/cm²), friability (0.01-29.24%) and disintegration (6.48-36.49 min). F11, containing GG:PVP at 75:25 mg, provided the most balanced measured profile: average weight 0.759 g, hardness 5.86 kg/cm², friability 0.58%, and disintegration time 12.35 min. Conclusion: Within the limits of the measured pharmaceutical tests, F11 was the most suitable formulation for further development. The findings demonstrate the pharmaceutical feasibility of the optimized polyherbal tablet formulation, with F11 showing the most satisfactory overall physical characteristics among the formulations studied.
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