ABSTRACT:
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the mucilage obtained from the fruit of Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn) Medie as a suspending agent. The main parts used in the plant are leaves, flowers, fruit and seed. The plant was found to contain mucilage and in our studies we have identified the mucilage in the fruit of the plant. A suspension of Zinc oxide was used to yield a 20% w/v suspension in water using mucilage as suspending agent and it is evaluated for its stability using the parameters like sedimentation volume, separation volume, redispersibility, viscosity and pH. The suspending effect of abelmoschus mucilage was compared with Zinc oxide suspensions prepared in water using suspending agent such as sodium CMC and tragacanth. The result obtained indicated that the abelmoschus mucilage could be used as a suspending agent. It has low rate of sedimentation, high viscosity, basic pH and is easily redispersible. These effects were comparable with that of the standard suspending agents like sodium CMC and tragacanth. From the observation extracted mucilage from fruit of Abelmoschus esculentus has the potential as a suspending agent even at low concentration and can be used as a pharmaceutical adjutant.