Preliminary evaluation of Leucaena leucocephala seed gum as a tablet binder.

The seed galactomannan of Leucaena leucocephala Lam. de Wit var.K-8 (family Leguminosae), a natural polysaccharide, with properties comparable to guar gum, was evaluated as a pharmaceutical binder. Characterization was done using studies of compressibility, micromeritic, and mechanical properties of granules prepared by wet granulation and subsequent studies on compacts, both containing 5% w/w of binder. The seed gum was subsequently used as a binder with a badly compressible material, paracetamol, and studied likewise. The seed gum compared will with standard pharmaceutical binders (starch and polyvinyl pyrrolidone [PVP] K30), at least for properties studied herein.