Acetylation of Starch Extracted from Rejected Fruits of Musa × paradisiaca L. to Obtain a Pharmaceutical Disintegrant

There are many natural sources to obtain pharmaceutical grade starch, one of which is banana (Musa × paradisiaca L.); nevertheless, the use of native starch has certain disadvantages compared to modified starches, whose disintegrating properties are better. In this study, starch extracted from rejected fruits of Musa × paradisiaca L., was modified by acetylation, under the following optimized experimental conditions: 130 mL acetic anhydride, 3 mL sodium hydroxide 50% p/v for each 15 grams of native starch, at 123℃ during 3 hours. The reaction resulted in a modified green banana starch with twice as much swelling capacity compared to unmodified (native) starch; acetylation was verified by infrared spectroscopy and degree of substitution of acetyl groups by back titration. The dissolution profiles of Ibuprofen tablets made with banana modified starch and commercial disintegrant, have no differences according with their similarity factor, f2. It is concluded that it is feasible to use green banana starch modified through acetylation as a pharmaceutical disintegrant.