V. Senthil, D. Sripreethi

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to formulate and evaluate a new, cheap and effective natural suspending agent that can be used as an effective alternative for traditional suspending agent. The study procedure involved extraction of suspending agent from the Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) seeds, solubility testing of the mucilage obtained, phytochemical testing, determination of swelling index, preparation of paracetamol suspension (blank), determination of sedimentation volume, measurement of viscosity, and determination of flow rate. The study showed that the extraction of fenugreek seeds had 8% w/w of suspending agent. The natural suspending agent was soluble in hot water and cold water. The photochemical test showed contains carbohydrates, alkaloids, proteins and amino acid. The swelling index was found to be 150%. The sedimentation volume by using fenugreek as a suspending agent shows highest sedimentation volume then acacia, tragacanth and paracetamol alone. Fenugreek can be employed as a stabilizer of choice and high viscosity is desired especially in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries.