The aim of present study was to extract pectin from dried orange fruit peels and assess its binding property in tablets using ibuprofen as a model drug. Extraction of pectin was carried out by microwave assisted extraction technique and pectin was isolated using acetone as a precipitating agent. Three different batches of tablets were formulated using pectin in different proportions (10, 20, 30 mg) and to compare the binding property of pectin, a reference batch was also formulated using starch as a binding agent instead of isolated pectin. Pre-compression and post-compression evaluation studies were performed for all formulations and found to be within the range as prescribed in the pharmacopoeias. Friability and disintegrating time of formulation F3 (30 mg of pectin) showed better results when compared to other formulations. In vitro dissolution studies revealed that formulation F3 containing 30 mg of pectin showed 82 % drug release which was almost similar to that of the reference batch F4 (85 %) containing same amount of starch as a binding agent. In vitro drug release kinetics of all the four batches followed korsmeyer-peppas model. In view of better friability, hardness, disintegration time and drug release properties of the pectin formulation, orange peel pectin can serve as an excellent binder in tablet dosage form.
