Article · Volume 16, Issue 4 · pp. 784–792

Investigating Dioscorea polystachya Starch as a Pharmaceutical Excipient

Vijayan Venugopal¹, Jaiganesh Krishnan², Lim Hui Feng³, Ang Li Ni³, Venkates Kumar³, Gunasunderi Raju⁴

¹School of Pharmacy, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Puducherry, INDIA.
²Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Puducherry, INDIA.
³Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Asian Institute of Medical Science and Technology (AIMST) University, Kedah, MALAYSIA.
⁴School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA.

Abstract

Background: Dioscorea polystachya (DP) starch, a low-cost, abundant, renewable and degradable starch, is being explored as a potential pharmaceutical excipient for drug formulation.Objectives: This study aimed to explore and isolate starch from Dioscorea polystachya and evaluate the excipients' properties.Materials and Methods: To study the phytochemical, physicochemical, morphological, rheological and emulsifying properties.Results:The isolated matter yields 40.5% starch from its dry weight of tubers and contains carbohydrates, moisture, lipids, nitrogen and various minerals. DP starch has 22.58±0.22% amylose and exhibits a non-Newtonian flow behaviour. The emulsifying capacity improved with the increasing starch concentration and provided significant emulsion stability through different oil ratios to polysaccharide solution. It showed an excellent foaming ability; however, foam stability gradually reduced over time .Conclusion: These findings indicate that Dioscorea polystachyastarch provides significant excipient properties so that it could be used as an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry.

Keywords: Dioscorea polystachya; Excipient; Pharmaceutical; Physicochemical; Phytochemical; Starch

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