Cellulose derived from Zea mays husk has been investigated as a disintegrant in a metformin tablet formulation in comparison with microcrystalline cellulose and cornstarch BP. The cellulose, extracted from Zea mays husk by a two stage sodium hydroxide treatment process followed by bleaching with sodium hypochlorite was incorporated extragranularly in metformin tablet formulation. The mechanical properties of the tablets were assessed using crushing strength and friability tests, while the drug release properties of the tablet were evaluated using disintegration and dissolution times as assessment parameters. Maize husk cellulose has fairly good flow, absorbs at least two times its weight of water and has comparable hydration capacity to microcrystalline cellulose and cornstarch. Tablets containing higher concentrations (5.0 %w/w and above) of maize husk cellulose generally conformed to official standard by showing friability values of 1% or less. Tablets formulated with maize husk cellulose had comparable mechanical strength to tablets made from cornstarch and microcrystalline cellulose. Metformin tablets containing maize husk cellulose disintegrated within 5 minutes at all concentrations and showed significantly (p< 0.01) lower values of disintegration times than those of cornstarch and microcrystalline cellulose. The disintegration time generally decreases with increased concentration of the maize husk cellulose while T50 and T80 increase with increased disintegrant concentration. The results suggest that maize husk cellulose could be useful as an alternative disintegrant to produce tablets with particular mechanical strength and drug release profile
