Abstract
Keeping in mind the health scenario in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with respect to vitamin D3 (VD3) deficiency and its significant role in calcium homeostasis and human metabolism, this research is exploring the combination of eggshell (as a source of calcium) and VD3 as a very economical solution for this problem. Eggshells from local restaurant were collected, washed, ground, sieved, and characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. The results of FTIR, SEM, DSC, XRD, and BET indicate that eggshell powder (ESP) was properly processed. Directly compressed tablets containing 2.5 mg of VD3 (equivalent to 50,000 IU), that are based on the use of ESP as tablet filler, were manufactured based on mixing Avicel PH 101 with ESP in different ratios (9:1, 1:1, and 1:9) in addition to the use of both Avicel PH 101 and ESP alone as tablet filler. Tablets properties were evaluated according to USP30-NF25 pharmacopoeia tests in terms of weight variation test, drug content uniformity, tablet hardness, tablet friability, tablet disintegration, and in vitro dissolution profile. The VD3 contents were found to be 98.77-102.35% in all formulations. After 90 min of study, all formulations showed in vitro drug release content in the range of 99.29-101.05%. All of the tested parameters of ESP tablets were similar to those of commercial Avicel PH 101. All of the tested properties of tablets with ESP as a filler were found to be within the acceptable limits of the pharmacopeia recommendations. Therefore, ESP could be exploited for its use as a filler in direct compression tablets.