Evaluation of hot-water extracted arabinoxylans from ispaghula seeds as drug carriers

This work evaluates the potential of a hot water extracted arabinoxylan from ispaghula (Plantago ovata) seeds as a safe, effective and economical drug carrier. In thermal analysis integral procedural decomposition temperature and comprehensive index of thermal stability were found to be 308 °C and 0.47 respectively. Gel permeation chromatography showed the existence of two components in the fraction. Atomic force microscopy indicated a surface having nanostructure. The tablets incorporating caffeine and diclofenac sodium formulated by the use of arabinoxylan exhibited sustained release profiles in various media. A pH-independent release pattern was observed for caffeine, while for diclofenac sodium the profile was found to be pH-dependent. The arabinoxylan provided a better sustained release as compared with that of Voltral®, a standard diclofenac sodium preparation. The release data suggest Power Law an appropriate model for this system.