Comparative evaluation of soy polysaccharide as direct compression excipient

Abstract

Commercial soy polysaccharide (Emcosoy^R) has been evaluated as direct compression excipient in comparison with two frequently used materials, microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel pH 101) and pregelatinized maize starch (Sta-RX 1500).

Moisture sorption and desorption data analysed according to the Young and Nelson and the GAB equations and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, brittle fracture probensity, interparticle bonding isotropy and yield pressure of compacted excipients after storage at various environmental relative humidities are reported. Tableting characteristics such as punch force ratio, weight variation, tensile strength, friability, capping tendency, disintegration and dissolution of mixtures of the excipients and paracetamol are compared.

Emcosoy has been found to behave like Avicel as direct compression binder but like Sta-RX as disintegrant.