European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF ECO-FRIENDLY WASTE PRODUCT FROM COCOS NUCIFERA PULP MARC AS EXCIPIENT FOR DRUG DELIVERY

Sunday Okorie Abali, *Ifeoma Cynthia Ekenna and Onyinye Anagbasi

ABSTRACT

This study was directed towards preparing, evaluating and recycling eco-friendly Cocos nucifera (coconut) pulp marc as pharmaceutical excipient for drug delivery. The Cocos nucifera pulp powder was obtained by dehusking the Cocos nucifera fruit, pulverizing, dewatering the pulverized pulp and finally defatted, re-pulverized, dried and stored. The powder was subjected to organoleptic, phytochemical, physicochemical, physicotechnical and microscopic analyses. The powder had a pleasant odour, white colour, sweet taste, and a fine fluffy texture but some crystalline particles were present. The physicotechnical properties of the powder showed a poor flow. The microscopic view revealed a high percentage of fibre. The phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of carbohydrate, protein, saponins, reducing sugars and alkaloids. Furthermore, proximate chemical composition analysis showed that Cocos nucifera pulp powder contains some carbohydrate (23.41%), protein (7.44%), lipids (3.65%), ash (4.4%), moisture (7%) and fibre (54.1%). The results of swelling studies revealed swelling capacity of 242% and hydration capacity of 5.42%. The Results obtained show that Cocos nucifera (coconut) pulp marc has great potential as a disintegrant and could be further explored as a pharmaceutical excipient in drug delivery.

Keywords: Cocos nucifera, pulp marc, evaluation, pharmaceutical excipient, drug delivery, disintegrant.