Abstract
Metronidazole is an oral synthetic antiprotozoal and antibacterial agent, 2-methyl-5nitroimidazole-1-ethanol. Metronidazole is bactericidal against anaerobic bacteria. It is physically available in white to pale yellow crystals or crystalline powder with 159-1630C melting point. Matrix tablets containing 500 mg Metronidazole were developed using two different polymers; one is natural origin Gum Ghatti (GG) whereas second polymer is synthetic Ethylcellulose (EC) with different drug polymer ratios of the polymers respectively. These tablets were prepared by Direct compression method. Metronidazole was used as a model drug. Matrices were found to be highly influenced by amounts of Gum Ghatti and Ethylcellulose incorporated. Drug release studies were carried out in 0.1 N HCl and PBS 7.4 to ensure that the prepared matrices retard the drug release in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and undergo enzymatic hydrolysis by the colonic bacteria. Matrix tablets containing 10 % to 30 % Ethylcellulose and Gum Ghatti were analyzed. In conclusion the release profile shows that Gum Ghatti was found to be comparable with Ethyl cellulose and emerging as a natural alternate of Ethyl cellulose as it prolonged the release of Metronidazole upto 18 hours means Gum Ghatti matrices retard the drug release more than Ethylcellulose matrices.
