ABSTRACT
In the present research, an attempt has been made to formulate sustained release matrix tablet of nicorandil, a novel potassium channel opener used in cardiovascular disease. The tablets were prepared by wet granulation method and studied the effect of matrix former xanthan gum and guar gum separately. Tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight, drug content, friability, hardness, thickness, in vitro dissolution and swelling study. All the formulation showed compliance with pharmacopoeial standard. As the time increases, the swelling index was increased; later on it decreases gradually due to dissolution of outermost –gelled layer of tablet into dissolution medium. Comparison between xanthan gum and guar gum, it has been observed that swelling index of guar gum was significantly more compared to xanthan gum. The dissolution result shows that an increased amount of polymer resulted in retarded drug release. The maximum drug release was found to be 90% over a period of 12 hours in guar gum based tablets (F4). Similarly maximum drug release was found to be 96% over a period of 12 hours in Xanthan gum based tablets (F1). This indicates that the minimum quantity of guar gum and Xanthan gum that is drug to gum ratio of 1:1 is required to prepare the sustain release matrix tablets of nicorandil.