The formulation and evaluation of rapid release tablets manufactured from Artemisia Afra plant material

Abstract

Infusions, decoctions, alcoholic preparations and other dosage forms of Artemisia afra are frequently used in South African traditional medicine. Generally when these preparations are made without applying good manufacturing practices they do not meet microbial quality control standards, safety and toxicity criteria and encourage poor patients compliance. To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of traditional dosage forms a sold dosage form, i.e. a table might be recommended. The first objective of this study was to formulate and manufacture a rapid release tablet dosage of Artemisia afra that would contain an amount of plant material equivalent to that found in its traditional liquid dosage forms and that would meet conventional pharmaceutical standards. The second objective was to conduct a pilot study to obtain a preliminary profile of the bioavailability of select flavonoids presents in both the tablet and traditional liquid preparation of Artemisia afra in humans.