A STUDY OF THE CHINESE DRUG “BAI-GI”(Ⅱ)THE EVALUATION OF THE MUCILAGE OF BLETILLA STRIAT AS BINDING AGENT IN TABLET MAKING

(1)In the previous studies of the Chinese drug “Bai-Gi”,the rhizomes of Bletilla striata,the mucilage extracted from it was investigated with re- ference to:(a) the method of its extraction,(b) the apparent viscosity and the su- spending power as compared with the mucilages of acacia and tragacanth under the same condition,and (c) the emulsifying properties as measured by means of the globules-counting method and the degree of creaming. (2)In the present investigation,studies have been made to compare the cohesive properties of the three tablet binders including (a)10% starch paste, (b)15% Acacia mucilage,and (c)2% mucilage of Bletilla striata employed in the granulating process for four kinds of tablets namely,lactose-starch,sul- fathiazole,sodium bicarbonate and aluminum hydroxide. (3)The determination of hardness,weight variations and disintegration time of the tablets of various medicinals granulated with 2% mucilage of Bletilla striata gave favorable results,as compared with those of the tablets of the same medicinals granulated with 10% starch paste and 15% mucilage of acacia.