Analysis of gastrointestinal acid-neutralizing potency of some commercial antacid tablet formulations

Benjamin U Ebeshi 1, 2, Samuel J Bunu 1, *, Hilda F Kpun 3 and Cynthia O Ezebube 2

1 Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Elele Campus, Nigeria.
3 Faculty of Pharmacy, Bayelsa Medical University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2022, 19(02), 008–013.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2022.19.2.0159
Publication history: 
Received on 19 March 2022; revised on 29 April 2022; accepted on 01 May 2022
 
Abstract: 
In dyspepsia, formulations known as antacids are regularly used to alleviate symptoms as quickly as possible. Gastric contents are acidic; therefore, antacids are usually weak bases with the potential to neutralize excess acid and raise gastric pH accordingly. Acid-neutralizing capacity is what determines the effectiveness of an antacid. Some antacid tablets formulation from different manufacturers were tested for their acid-neutralizing capacity and effectiveness for patients in this study. The South-East region of Nigeria had pharmacies vending antacids of different brands. To remove potential bias from the study, the brands were coded A-F. Labels on all samples indicated that they would expire more than one year from now. To determine each antacid tablet's acid-neutralizing capacity, the titrimetric method was used. In terms of acid-neutralizing capacity, brands D, A, B, C, F, and E showed the greatest acid-neutralizing capacity (8.2mEq/g), and brand E showed the lowest capacity (5.7 mEq/g). An analysis of the ANC of all the tablets found that they exceeded the FDA standard of >5mEq for antacids. An inexpensive, simple, and easy-to-use titrimetric method could be used routinely to monitor antacid tablet quality.
 
Keywords: 
Antacid; Acid- neutralizing; Ulcer; Titrimetry; Gastric acid; Tablet
 
Full text article in PDF: 
Share this