ANTHELMINTIC SHANKHPUSHPI PELLETS: TASTE MASKING

Abstract

Shankhpushpi is a highly potent anthelmintic drug having bitter taste. In the formulation for pediatric & geriatric patients the main challenge to the formulator is to mask the taste of obnoxious and bitter drugs without loss of optimal therapeutic activity of the formulation. The main objective of present study was the in vitro evaluation of the taste masking efficiency and anthelmintic activity of shankhpushpi formulation prepared by extrusion-spheronization. Pellets containing high shankhpushpi loadings in Eudragit L-100-55 were prepared by extruder and spheronizer. The taste masking of processed formulation was evaluated in vitro by dissolution method and chromatographic technique, while anthelmintic effect was evaluated by using six adult Indian earthworms and cattle worms. The result of present study indicated that Shankhpushpi for few minutes began the paralysis of earthworm followed by death at the end of 375.5 minutes. Thus, the present study demonstrated that formulated pellets of Shankhpushpi has potent anthelmintic activity and has commercial significance.