Tamrat Balcha Balla
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Title: Isolation, characterization and evaluation of disintegrant properties of Taro boloso-i (colocasia esculenta cultivar) starch
Biography
Biography: Tamrat Balcha Balla
Abstract
Starch, as a natural polymer, is sought preferentially after either to semi-synthetic or synthetic ones in drug delivery. Taro Boloso-I is a new variety of Colocasia esculenta officially released in Ethiopia and its cultivation out yields the other varieties by 67%. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the starch from this plant and also to evaluate its potential tablet disintegrant properties. Starch was extracted from Taro Boloso-I using saline solution and sodium hydroxide. Various experimental methods were applied for its characterizations. Central composite design was used for optimization of concentration of the starch used as disintegrant and compression force as factors to have best combination of hardness, friability and disintegration time of the tablets. Yield of starch from Taro Boloso-I on dry weight basis was 83.5 ± 1.6%. The native Taro Boloso-I starch (NTB1S) showed lower amylose to amylopectin ratio (20.7 ± 1.8% to 77.3 ± 2.1%, w/w) higher onset, peak and endset temperatures of gelatinization than potato starch. Its granules are polyhedral/angular shape, A-type polymorph and cohesive. In all of these, Taro Boloso-I starch not only significantly differs from the previously reported taro varieties in Ethiopia but also shares more of properties of rice (cereal) starch. This study revealed that, if used as a disintegrant for fast dissolving tablets, NTB1S can result in better hardness and friability. It is a novel native starch in both its physicochemical properties and its potential disintegration effects.