Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose and Microcrystalline cellulose from Corn husk, Corn cob, and Lupine husk, and Evaluation of Microcrystalline Cellulose as Directly Compressible Pharmaceutical Excipient
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Date
2020-12
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
In recent years there has been a worldwide interest on sustainable use of resources. Isolation of
cellulose from agro-industrial wastes has gained a great deal of interest from scientists and
researchers due to its high demand in paper, food, cosmetics, textile and pharmaceutical
industries. In Ethiopia, corn husk (CH), corn cob (CC), and lupine husk (LH) are abundant
lignocellulosic agricultural wastes. Thus, the objective of this study was to prepare and
characterize native cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from corn husk, corn cob, and
lupine husk and evaluate MCC as directly compressible pharmaceutical excipient. Cellulose
fibers were isolated from corn husk, corn cob, and lupine husk with NaOH and peroxiformic acid
treatments and MCC was prepared through the hydrolysis of native celluloses using 0.1-M HCl.
The isolated celluloses and MCC were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
(FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties of both plain MCC tablets and mebendazolecontaining
MCC tablets as a model drug were evaluated. The yields of cellulose from CH, CC,
LH, were 42%, 33%, 36% and CH-MCC, CC-MCC, and LH-MCC, were 80%, 76%, and 78%,
respectively. The degree of polymerization (DP) of CH-C, CC-C, and LH-C were 735.73,
667.29, and 576.75, respectively, while DP of MCC preparations ranged from 247.36 - 315.15.
The FTIR spectra of cellulose from CH, CC, and LH were almost similar and MCCs were
comparable to Avicel PH-101 spectra. The CI values of LH-C (75.39%) was slightly higher than
CH-C (74.5%), CC-C (72.86%) and CI of LH-MCC (81.41 %) was lower than Avicel PH-101
(85.48%) and higher than CH-MCC (78.1%), CC-MCC (77.01%). The SEM pictures of cellulose
showed micro-fibrillated structure, whereas MCC exhibited rod like shape and irregular
aggregated particles. All samples of cellulose and MCC showed good thermal stability. All MCC
powders showed monomodal normal particle size distribution. Both plain and mebendazole
loaded CH-MCC, CC-MCC, and LH-MCC tablets showed acceptable crushing and tensile
strength. The disintegration times and drug release profiles of all mebendazole loaded tablets
prepared from CH-MCC, CC-MCC, LH-MCC, and Avicel PH-101 were comparable and within
the acceptable Pharmacopeia range. Therefore, CH, CC, and LH could be promising locally
available potential sources of cellulose and MCC.
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Keywords
Corn husk, Corn cob, Lupine husk, Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose.