Purpose: To investigate and compare the physicochemical properties and lubricant potentials of Blighia\nsapida seed oil (BSSO) with those of magnesium stearate, a commercial lubricant.\nMethods: The dried seeds of Blighia sapida (BS) powder were macerated with n-hexane for five days\nto separate the oil. The physicochemical properties; solubility profile, acid value, saponification value,\niodine value of the oil were determined using standard methods. Batches of ascorbic acid tablets\ncompressed at same compression settings using different concentrations of BSSO as lubricant were\nevaluated for their friability, weight uniformity, tablet hardness, disintegration and dissolution.\nResults: BSSO had a density of 0.9 g/ml, acid value of 2.65 �± 0.20 mg KOH/g, saponification value of\n141.65 �± 0.75 mg KOH/g, iodine value of 62.50 �±3.71 mg I2/g among other parameters. Fatty acid\nmethyl ester analysis (FAME) revealed 96.89 % of monounsaturated fatty acids and esters in the range\nof C15-C23; a C23 compound, 22-tricosenoic acid was the dominant compound (46.82 %). The oil showed\nexcellent lubrication properties in ascorbic acid tablets at a low concentration (0.5 %), similar to 2 %\nmagnesium stearate. However, higher concentration (5 %) of BSSO resulted in granules that could not\nbe compressed into tablets. Tablets containing BSSO demonstrated satisfactory friability, weight\nuniformity, hardness, disintegration and dissolution characteristics.\nConclusion: Blighia sapida seed oil is a potentially useful low-cost tablet lubricant. However, further\ninvestigations on the excipient, including stability, toxicity, etc, are required to ascertain its suitability.
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