Physicochemical Characterization of Cellulose and Powder Extracts of Cocoa Pod Husk as Pharmaceutical Excipients

ABSTRACT

Background:Granules of extracted cellulose from cocoa pod husk (CPHC) and powder extract from the crude cocoa pod husk (CPHP) were characterized physicochemically for possible applications as pharmaceutical excipients.Aim: To determine the percentage content of cellulose and powder extracts from the crude cocoa pod husk as excipients in pharmaceutical formulation of solid dosage forms (tablets).Method: Cellulose was obtained from dried and sized cocoa pod shell through a chemical process involving washing; filtration and bleaching at 40-60oC with 3.5nitric acid; sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide then whitened with the use of hydrogen peroxide. The cellulose and powder extracts obtained were subjected to physicochemical tests (bulk density; true density; flowability; moisture content; sorption and hydration capacity).Results: The cellulose extract yield was approximately 31. Both the cellulose and powder extract exhibited low bulk density; high porosity; high true density indicating poor packing characteristics of their granules but good compressibility properties. The powder extract (CPHP) had high moisture contents. The angle of repose of the cellulose is lower than that of the powder extract (340 and 440 respectively). Both materials (cellulose and powder) had high hydration capacity (3.02 to 3.07) comparable to standard disintegrants (micro crystalline cellulose and maize starch of 3.06 and 3.05 respectively).Conclusion: The yield of about 31indicates a high content of cellulose in cocoa pod husk. The extracted cellulose (CPHC) and the powder extract (CPHP) upon physicochemical characterization indicated their relevance as disintegrants in direct compression and wet granulation pharmaceutical formulation methods respectively