Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) are gaining popularity over conventional tablets due to their convenience in administration and suitability for patients having dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing). In the present study, an attempt was made to compare the disintegration efficiency of mucilage isolated from natural source, Plantago ovata with widely used synthetic superdisintegrant, sodium starch glycolate (SSG) in the formulation of ODTs. Both the superdisintegrants were used at different concentration levels to assess their efficiency. ODTs were prepared by direct compression method using mannitol as directly compressible vehicle. Tablets were evaluated for various physical parameters such as weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, wetting time, water absorption ratio, drug content, in vitro disintegration time and dissolution studies. Swelling index was also measured for comparing the swelling property of SSG with mucilage of Plantago ovata. The present study revealed that mucilage of Plantago ovata proved to be more effective for their disintegrating property than the most commonly used synthetic superdisintegrant, SSG.
