Characterization of Moringa oleifera Lam. Gum to Establish it as a Pharmaceutical Excipient

The gums are common constituents of plants which have been ignored by pharmacists of the modern day. Moringa oleifera gum was identified to be useful in colon targeted drug delivery. This study elucidates the physical and pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera gum in order to establish it as a pharmaceutical excipient. The parameters applied for the present study include solubility, total ash and acid insoluble ash value, moisture content, pH value, angle of repose, swelling index, bulk and tap densities, Hausner’s ratio, Compressibility index, Fourier Transform Infra red (FT-IR), viscosity, acute and sub–acute toxicity studies. The studied parameters indicate that this gum could be used as a pharmaceutical excipient.