In the present study okra mucilage is extracted and evaluated for mucoadhesive character. Buccal tablets containing metronidazole as model drug were prepared using okra mucilage as polymer, directly compressible lactose and PEG as excipient. The effect of concentrations of okra mucilage/lactose ratio and compression force were studied on ex-vivo bio adhesion time and on % release, employing two-factor, three-level central composite experimental design. The buccal tablets were evaluated for friability, weight variation, thickness variation and mucoadhesion time. The mucoadhesion was determined by observing the time taken by the tablets to detach from a chicken buccal pouch. It was found that the ratio (okra mucilage/lactose) has more pronounced effect on ex-vivo bioadhesion time than that of compression force. The optimized formulation hving okra mucilage/lactose ratio (0.5) and compression pressure (7 ton) provided adequate ex-vivo bioadhesion time (22 h) and percentage release of 98.23% after 24h.
