Aims: The aim of present study was to evaluate Gum Katira obtained from the plant Cochlospermum religiosum (Family Cochlospermaceae) as a matrix forming pharmaceutical excipient for a novel drug delivery system. Materials and Methods: Gum Katira was used for the drug release retarding material in microsphere formulation using Etodolac as a model drug. Etodolac was found to be compatible with the matrix material Gum Katira by conducting the various physiochemical and instrumental analysis. Result: Etodolac loaded Gum Katira microsphere (ELGKM) was compared with Etodolac loaded sodium alginate microsphere (ELSAM) and blank microsphere (without gum matrix), which subsequently revealed that the drug release rate of ELGKM was better for sustained and controlled release. Conclusion: In our experiment, it was found that the drug release mechanism best fitted in Korsmeyers Peppas model on comparing the correlation coefficient values of different mathematical models. The result of this study indicates that ELGKM (1% w/v Gum Katira) would be desired formulations in delivering the drug with controlled and sustained release pattern.
Key words: Etodolac, Gum Katira, Gum Matrix, Rheogram, Sustained release.