Phytochemical Profiling, Development, and Evaluation of C. Cujete Fruit Pulp as a Natural Disintegrant in Compressed Paracetamol Tablets

Synthetic excipients, especially disintegrants, are commonly used in tablet formulations but present challenges, including potential side effects, high costs, and environmental impact [14][29]. There is a need for safer, more sustainable alternatives, with plant-based excipients offering promising benefits [28][44]. Crescentia cujete (calabash tree) fruit pulp, rich in bioactive compounds and polysaccharides, has been traditionally used in ethnomedicine and could serve as a natural disintegrant [18][42]. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of C. cujete as a natural disintegrant in compressed paracetamol tablet formulations, focusing on its ability to enable rapid disintegration while maintaining overall tablet quality. The fruit pulp was extracted, characterized, and incorporated into paracetamol tablets, which were then evaluated through standard pharmacopeial tests, including hardness, friability, disintegration time, and dissolution. Results showed that tablets containing C. cujete exhibited an acceptable value for the disintegration time parameter and maintained suitable physical characteristics within compendial limits. However, the dissolution profile did not meet the pharmacopeial standards, the same as the synthetic disintegrants that were used. In comparison, using one-way ANOVA, the C. cujete formulation did not show comparable or improved performance over that of the synthetic disintegrants, as indicated by a p-value of 0.4939 (p > 0.05). Thus, while C. cujete pulp is a potentially safer, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative, it does not demonstrate superior efficacy in dissolution behavior compared to synthetic disintegrants.