This study evaluated the technological feasibility of producing a semipurifi ed extract of guaraná (Paullinia cupana Kunth, Sapindaceae) in tablet form, using a directcompression process. Maltodextrin and gum arabic were used to produce the extract microparticles, in order to protect the microparticles against such factors as temperature, oxidation, and humidity. Using pharmacopoeial methodologies, technological and physicochemistry tests (determination of residual moisture, of bulk and tapped

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... ensity, Hausner ratio, compressibility and compactibility index, appearance, mean weight, hardness, friability, disintegration time, determination of EPA amount in tablets and in vitro release profi le) were conducted. The formulation containing 200 mg of microparticles, 170 mg microcrystalline cellulose, and 10 mg lactose gave the best results in terms of hardness (116 N), friabilility (0.28%), mean weight (0.3821 g), and disintegration time (25 min) for a tablet designed for oral administration. The results met pharmacopoeial specifi cations, and the tablets are suitable for oral administration. Keywords : guaraná lactose microcrystalline cellulose microparticles Paullinia cupana tablets Development of tablets containing semipurified extract of guaraná (Paullinia cupana) Traudi Klein et al. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. Braz. J. Pharmacogn. 23(1): Jan./Feb. 2013 187 Development of tablets containing semipurified extract of guaraná (Paullinia cupana) Traudi Klein et al. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. Braz. J. Pharmacogn. 23(1): Jan.