FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT OF HERBAL CAPSULE CONTAINING OLEORESIN OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE EXTRACT

Objective: The aim of this present study was to investigate an appropriate type and amount of adsorbent to adsorb Zingiber Officinale extract in order to prepare the Zingiber Officinale liquisolid powder for capsule filling with the satisfied powder flow-ability to obtain the good uniformity of capsule weight. Methods: Liquisolid powder of ginger was prepared by non thermal drying method of adsorption. The liquid ginger was adsorb by four different adsorbent powders which were microcrystalline cellulose (MC), dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate (DB), lactose (L) and calcium carbonate (CC) to obtain the crumbly dried powder. The moisture content, flow-ability, morphology of powder and amount of volatile oils in the capsule were evaluated. Results: Adsorbent powders that could dry the extracted ginger into a crumbly powder within the amount of powder capable to be filled in capsule no. 0 were the adsorbent MC, L and CC. The moisture contents found were less than 5%w/w in all three formulations. The flow-ability of CC was improved after the adsorption while the flow-ability of L and MC were worse, respectively. After the adsorption, both the rod particles of MC and geometrical particles of L were held together as a lump of various sizes but not much larger than the original size, with the fusion of surface materials. Conversely, the various shapes of CC particles were combined as a huge cluster, larger than original size, but with a very uniform cluster size so that flow-ability of CC was enhanced from these appropriated characteristics of powder. The capsule appearances of all three formulations were perfect but there were only two formulations of L and CC that passed the uniformity of weight test. The results of uniformity of weight corresponded to the flow-ability of powder that the powder with good flow-ability resulted into the good uniformity of capsule weight. All formulations passed the disintegration test. The active volatile oil, 6-gingerol, was retained and found in 95.207% and 103.67% of the reference amount according to CC and L capsule formulations, respectively. Conclusion: Drying of extracted ginger by avoiding heat could be accomplished by calcium carbonate since calcium carbonate, as the best choice of adsorbent, provided a good powder flow-ability after the liquid ginger adsorption resulting into the capsule with the good uniformity of weight. The active volatile oil of 6-gingerol was retained with the satisfied amount in calcium carbonate formulation.