Preparation technology of Dracocephalum moldevica total flavonoids pellets and its release mechanism / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To optimize the preparation technology of the Dracocephalum moldevica total flavonoids pellets (DMTFP), and to study its release mechanism. Methods: The Box-Behnken central composite design was used, and the extrusion speed, spheronisation speed, and spheronisation time were taken as the independent variables; The yield, friability, sphericity, and general normalized value were taken as dependent variables. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to estimate the relationship between the dependent and independent variables, and to validate the optimal formulation. Then the dissolution behaviors of DMTFP were investigated by in vitro dissolution test. The internal structure of DMTFP was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The optimal conditions were as follows the extrusion speed was 36.96 Hz, the spheronisation speed was 37.18 Hz, and the spheronisation time was 5 min. Under these conditions, the measured value was consistent with the predicated value with RSD < 4 %. The dissolution rate of DMTFP was good, and the internal structure of DMTFP was matrix type by SEM. Conclusion: The preparation technology of DMTFP is optimized, which is simple and feasible. The bulge of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose is the reason of disintegration of DMTFP.