Various natural polymers have been investigated for their applications as pharmaceutical adjuants. Natural materials are preferred in the field of drug delivery because they are readily available, cost-effective, eco-friendly, capable of multitude of chemical modifications, potentially degradable and compatible due to their natural origin. Neem gum, a biopolymer obtained from the plants, is used as a binder in pharmaceutical industries, as a stabilizing agent, thickening agent in food industry; as an adhesive in paint industry. India produces and uses neem gum for a variety of purposes because of her tradition. The present study was focused on application potential of neem gum as a film forming material. The objectives of the study are characterization and evaluation of Neem gum also preparation and evaluation of Neem gum films.Neem gum was characterized for physico-chemical properties namely, solubility, ash values, acid value, pH, viscosity. Neem gum films were prepared by using suitable plasticizer by casting technique. The films were evaluated for thickness, moisture content, tensile strength, moisture uptake/ loss, water vapor transmission study. It was observed that 10% w/w polymer concentration and 30% to 50% w/w concentration of propylene glycol, as a plasticizer, were optimum for formation of Neem gum films. The free films of Neem gum exhibited substantially less moisture content, good mechanical strength, low moisture uptake and low water vapor transmission rates. Low water vapor transmission rates of the free films of Neem Gum indicated good moisture protecting ability of films. It was concluded that Neem gum is a potential film forming agent.
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