ABSTRACT
Among the various routes of drug delivery oral route is the most widely accepted route by the
patients for delivery of therapeutically active drugs. So buccal route was widely used and
convenient method for drug administration. Aim of the present study was to prepare and
characterize mucoadhesive buccal tablets of Candesartan by direct compression method using
different mucoadhesive polymers such like carbopol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and
sodium alginate. Nine formulations were prepared while (F1) to (F3) were prepared by taking
individual concentrations whereas all the remaining formulations prepared by taking
combinations of polymers. Formulations (F4) to (F6) were composed of carbopol,
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and sodium alginate in ratio of 1: 2. Formulations (F7) to (F9)
were composed by taking polymers like carbopol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and
sodium alginate in 1.5: 1.5 ratios. Candesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist which
is widely used for the treatment of hypertension to reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients
with left ventricular dysfunction following myocardial infraction and heart failure. The
prepared buccal tablets were characterized for thickness, hardness, weight variation, drug
content, friability and in vitro drug release. Among all the formulations the (F3) formulation
with sodium alginate showed 93% drug release, while (F7) with equal ratios 1.5:1.5 ratios of
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and sodium alginate showed 98% drug release within 8 hrs.
All the formulations were following zero order release kinetics.
Key words: Buccal tablet, Candesartan, Carbopol, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Sodium
alginate.