Examination of natural gums and mucilages as sustaining materials in tablet dosage forms.

Twelve natural gums and mucilages were evaluated for their ability to sustain the release of drug from matrix systems. Mucilages from pods of Hibiscus esculenta and seeds of Linum usitatissimum are found to possess better sustaining characterstics than even widely used synthetic materials like methyl cellulose (Mc), sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose (NaCMC) and hydroxy propylmethylcellulose (HPMC).