EXTRACTION AND FORMULATION OF A HERBAL PRODUCT: THE CRUDE FLAVONOID EXTRACT OF GARCINIA KOLA HECKEL (BITTER KOLA) SEEDS INTO LOZENGES
*Uzondu, Akueyinwa. Lovet. E., Okafo, Sinodukoo. Eziuzo
ABSTRACT
Traditional medicine is the fore – runner of modern medicine. There is
usually lack of standardization in the methods of extraction and
formulation of traditional remedies into dosage forms. The seeds of
Garcinia kola Heckel have been chewed and used for medicinal
purposes, such as alleviation of mild throat infections. This claim was
based on the fact that flavonoids can be extracted from the seeds. This
study was set to obtain a crude flavonoid extract from the seeds of
Garcinia kola Heckel and to formulate it into lozenges for the
treatment of mild throat infections. The seeds of Garcinia kola Heckel
were peeled, sun – dried to constant weight, and pulverised into coarse powder. Preliminary
chemical tests were performed on the powder. Extraction of the crude flavonoid extract was
done by maceration at room temperature (28 – 290C) and by soxhlet apparatus. The extracts
were dried and weighed. The powdered extract was formulated into 100mg lozenges. The
preliminary chemical tests performed on the powdered seeds of Garcinia kola Heckel
revealed the presence of sterols and triterpenes, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, resins,
tannins, starch and proteins. Alkaloids were not detected. The percentage yield of the extract
by maceration was higher (12.83%) than by soxhlet extraction (4.6%). The extracts have a
characteristic chocolate colour, and were stable at room temperature. This work showed that
crude flavonoid extracts can be obtained from Garcinia kola Heckel seeds by either maceration or soxhlet extraction methods. The extract can also be conveniently formulated
into lozenges.
Keywords: Traditional medicine, Garcinia kola Heckel, Maceration, Soxhlet extraction, Lozenges.
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