Grewia Gum 1: Some Mechanical and Swelling Properties of Compact and Film

Purpose: To study the mechanical and dynamic swelling properties of grewia gum, evaluate its
compression behaviour and determine the effect of drying methods on its properties.
Methods: Compacts (500 mg) of both freeze-dried and air-dried grewia gum were separately prepared
by compression on a potassium bromide (KBr) press at different pressures and subjected to Heckel
analysis. Swelling studies were performed using 200 mg compacts of the gum (freeze-dried or air-dried)
compressed on a KBr press. The mechanical properties of the films of the gum prepared by casting 1 %
dispersions of the gum were evaluated using Hounsfield tensiometer. The mechanical properties of
grewia gum films were compared with films of pullulan and guar gum which were similarly prepared. The
effect of temperature on the water uptake of the compacts was studied and the data subjected to
Schott’s analysis.
Results: Drying conditions had no effect on the yield pressure of the gum compacts as both air-dried
and freeze-dried fractions had a yield pressure of 322.6 MPa. The plots based on Schott’s equation for
the grewia gum samples showed that both samples (freeze-dried and air-dried) exhibited long swelling
times. Grewia gum film had a tensile strength of 19.22±3.61 MPa which was similar to that of pullulan
films (p > 0.05). It had an elastic modulus of 2.13±0.12 N/mm2 which was significantly lower (p < 0.05)
than those of pullulan and guar gum with elastic moduli of 3.33±0.00 and 2.86±0.00 N/mm2,
respectively.
Conclusion: The type of drying method used does not have any effect on the degree of plasticity of
grewia gum compacts. Grewia gum obtained by either drying method exhibited extended swelling
duration. Matrix tablet formulations of the gum will likely swell slowly and promote sustained release of
drug.