EFFECT OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS AERIAL PARTS ON IN VITRO DISSOLUTION OF FOLIC ACID TABLETS

Abstract

Introduction: There is a high prevalence in the use of herbs for the treatment of several diseases 
in developing countries due to their accessibility and affordability, thus making it important to 
evaluate the effect of herbs on conventional drugs. 
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methanolic extracts of Telfairia 
occidentalis aerial parts on in vitro dissolution of folic acid Tablets.  
Methods: Two simple UV spectrometric methods were adopted and validated for the assay and 
dissolution tests of folic acid Tablets; taking wavelengths of maximum absorption of folic acid 
in phosphate buffer (pH 9) and distilled water as 282.5 nm and 377.2 nm respectively.  
Results: The assay result of obtained for percentage recovery of folic acid Tablets was 78.86 %, 
which is far below the BP (2009) acceptable range of 90- 110 %. The control dissolution rate of 
folic acid in distilled water showed a steady increase in dissolution rate, with no decline within 
15 minutes while the test dissolution rate of the drug in aqueous solution of the methanolic extract 
of Telfairia occidentalis showed a rapid increase and then sharp decline in dissolution rate within 
the same time frame. 
Conclusion and Recommendation: The dissolution pattern of folic acid Tablets in the presence 
of Telfairia occidentalis was observed to be erratic and different from that of folic acid alone. 
Therefore, it is recommended that in vivo pharmacokinetic studies should be carried out in order 
to quantify and establish this drug-herb interaction.