Application of microcrystalline cellulose obtained from Gossypium herbaceum in direct compression of chlorpheniramine maleate tablets

The flow, tableting and in vitro release properties of directly compressed chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) tablets containing fluid bed dried and lyophilized microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) obtained from Gossypium herbaceum (GH) were investigated.  Delignification of dried GH linters was done through the soda process to obtain alpha cellulose which was hydrolyzed with 2.0 N hydrochloric acid to get MCC. The MCC was washed with water until neutral. Drying was done by either fluid bed method or lyophilization to obtain MCC-GossF and MCC-GossL respectively. Chlorpheniramine tablets containing 20, 30 and 40% of the MCCs were prepared by direct compression method. Avicel PH102 (AVH-102) served as comparing standard. Using standard methods, evaluation of the powders and the tablets was done. The evaluated parameters of the powders and tablets conformed to the British Pharmacopoeia specifications.  The CPM tablets containing MCC-GossF (coded CGF) had better flow but were not mechanically as strong as those containing MCC-GossL (coded CGL). The hardness and disintegration times of the tablets were in the order of CGF < CGL and the friability was in the order of CGF > CGL.  Similar parameters of DCL compared well with CPM tablets containing AVH-102 (coded DAV). The MCC obtained from GH had dilution potential up to 40% except in CGF-4 tablets. The in vitro dissolution showed > 80% CPM release from all the batches within 30 min. The release kinetics were of mixed order while the mechanism of drug release was Fickian. The MCCs served as good directly compressible binder for chlorpheniramine maleate.