ABSTRACT
Background: Natural polymers are becoming useful excipients in pharmaceutical formulations due to their non-toxic and biodegradable properties. One of their common uses is in the manufacture of polymeric films.Objective: This present work is to evaluate the effect of plasticizer type and polymer type on the properties of Terminalia films.Method: Films were prepared by solvent casting method using Terminalia, xanthan gums and hydroxylpropy lmethylcellulose (HPMC). Terminlia was also combined with xanthan, HPMC at different ratios using propylene glycol and glycerol as plaasticizers. The films were characterized using adherence, folding endurance and mechanical properties were determined using tensile strength and percent elongation. Disintegration was carried out in a disintegration apparatus using distilled water, 0.1M HCl (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer pH 6.8.Result: Films prepared with Terminalia and those prepared by combining Terminalia and xanthan gums showed adherence. Films plasticized with glycerol had higher folding endurance and tensile strength. When HPMC was combined with Terminalia, the disintegration of the films produced was significantly (p<0.05) reduced at pH 6.8Conclusion: Glycerol plasticizer produced films with optimal properties, while combination of Terminalia gum and HPMC, produced films with optimal properties. Therefore, plasticizer and polymer must be carefully chosen for film formulations