Formulation and characterization of medicated chewing gum containing zingiberine for treatment of throat infections

The objective of this work was to formulate zingiberine as medicated chewing gum for improving its bioavailability. The objective was achieved by isolating zingiberine form ginger oil and formulating chewing gum using zein as the gum base by melting method. The formulation of ZCGs was achieved using melting method. Zein was used as the gum base, glycerine as the plasticizer, sucrose and mannitol as the sweeteners and peppermint oil as the flavoring agent. The amount of drug contained in the formulations was uniform in all the formulations and ranged from 94.4 to 96.2%. Release of drug from ZCGs in simulated saliva (pH 6.8 buffer solution) was studied by analyzing the samples at various time intervals up to 30 min. The drug release from the formulations was found to be in the range of 74.28 to 91.66 % in 30 min. Increasing the concentration of the gum base (zein) in the formulations led to a decrease in the release of the drug. The highest percentage of zingiberene was found to be released form ZCG1 after 30 min. Hence it could be considered the best formulation of all.

1. Introduction

The oral drug delivery system is most acceptable route of drug administration due to ease of administration than other dosage forms. In addition to confectionary role, nowadays, chewing gum is also showing best and convenient drug delivery system due to rapid absorption of agents which can be absorbed by oral cavity. Chewing gum is a drug delivery system which is going to advance more and more in nowadays researches and it seems to get more standardized in future industry because it can deliver either pharmaceuticals or nutrients which are known as medicated chewing gum (MCG) and non-MCG. MCG is supposed to act as an extended release dosage form that provides a continuous release of medicine contained [1]. Medicated chewing gums are used to deliver drug locally or systemically. Drug can be release locally for the oral treatment or may be absorbed rapidly by oral mucosa for systemic conditions, leading to fast onset of action and bioavailability. This avoids first-pass metabolism and also metabolism in gastrointestinal tract. Hence this delivery method is highly appreciable for delivery of drugs intended for quick onset of action. Several drugs worldwide are marketed as chewing gum [2] and several experimental work on chewing has drug delivery system has been reported [3-8]. Zingiberine is the active principle of ginger rhizomes and has found wide applicability in treatment of throat infections. It is poorly soluble and hence has a low bioavailability. Since throat infections need quick onset and good bioavailability for management of the infection, it must act locally as well as systematically [9]. Hence it was envisioned to prepare medicated chewing gum delivery system of zingiberine, thereby improving it patient compliance and have a quick onset of action by quick release and absorption of the drug.

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Kuldeep Bairwa, Amit Jain, Formulation and characterization of medicated chewing gum containing zingiberine for treatment of throat infections, Journal of Propulsion Technology, Vol. 44 No. 3 (2023), ISSN: 1001-4055