Abstract

Background: Pharmaceutics is an essential branch of pharmacy which deals with the formulation and method development. Syrups are essential pharmaceutical preparations that often used for the pediatric patients as solid dosage forms are not practical in this population.

Objective: The main aim of this experiment was to develop a pharmaceutical method for estimating sucrose concentration in syrups by using rheological measures. This will allow prediction of sucrose concentration in the syrup from knowledge of its viscosity. Methods: Granulation made of dextrose, starch, 10% gelatin solution, FD&C dye, and magnesium stearate was prepared. The time needed for syrup to pass a bed of the granules placed inside a large pipette tip was recorded in seconds. Syrups viscosity was determined by Ostwald’s viscometer, and the specific gravity of the syrup formulations was measured by a pycnometer.

Results: A non-linear relationship (second-degree polynomial) was observed between the time needed for complete elution of the syrup from the granule bed and the concentration of sucrose in syrup. Likewise, a seconddegree polynomial relationship was shown to exist between the viscosity of the syrup and its content of sucrose.

Conclusion: This method can determine with reasonable accuracy the concentration of sucrose in syrups if the viscosity of the test solution was known or if the time for the liquid to pass through a granule bed was measured. This method may also be used for identifying non-sugar-based syrups that mimic in their properties the sugar-based formulations.

Keywords: Pharmaceutics; Granulation; Formulation