ABSTRACT
Starches from four new sweet potato genotypes were evaluate for use as tablet diluents, binders and disintegrants; using a commercially available maize starch as reference. The pre-formulation studies established low pH (5.1 - 5.9) and moisture content (10.0 - 13.1%), but high bulk density (0.50 - 0.58), tapped density (0.75 - 0.82) and true density (1.15 - 1.18) for the sweet potato starches. Hardness and friability of tablets formulated with sweet potato starches as binder were significantly better (p = 0.001) than similar compacts containing maize starch. The sweet potato starches also caused significantly faster tablet disintegration and release of paracetamol (p = 0.005). The results established the sweet potato starches as stronger pharmaceutical diluents, binders and disintegrants, compared to the commercially available maize starch.