Preparation and Characterization of Pregelatinized Sago Starch (PSS) from Native Sago Starch (NSS) (Metroxylon sp.) and its Evaluation as Tablet Disintegrant and Filler-Binder on Direct Compression Tablet

Starches are biodegradable and relatively inexpensive natural biopolymers which are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Sago starch is one of the starches which can be potentially used as the excipient in pharmaceutical formulation. The purpose of this study was to modify and to characterize the physical and chemical properties of native sago starch (Metroxylon sp) (NSS) and pregelatinized sago starch (PSS). NSS was evaluated to be confirmed with the requirement, including microscopic analyses, amylum identification, ash content, amylum acidity, loss on drying, solubility in water, solubility in ethanol, and chemical content of Pb, Cd, Hg. Physically evaluated for both types of sago starch were particle size, moisture content, flow rate, angle of repose, tapped density, compactibility, water absorption rate, and water absorption capacity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to characterize and evaluate PSS and NSS’s chemical properties. Chemical content (Pb, Cd, Hg) and microbial content (yeast mold figures, number of bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp.) of PSS are also identified. The results of this study showed that PSS exhibited different values of those determined parameters compared to that of NSS on particle size, moisture content, flow rate, the angle of repose, tapped density, water absorption rate, and water absorption capacity. In conclusion, PSS has better flow properties because it has a larger particle size than the NSS. PSS also has a larger water absorption rate and water absorption capacity than the NSS because PSS can interact with water easier than NSS. There is no bacterial content in PSS which means PSS follows the regulatory requirement. PSS had a good effect on weight uniformity, hardness, and disintegration time of the tablets. It makes PSS can be potentially used as the excipient in solid dosage form formulation. Copyright © 2022 by Indonesian Journal of Pharmacy (IJP).