The aim of this work was to develop anti-stress compressed lozenges containing 100 mg of glycine and 250 mg of magnesium citrate obtained by the direct compression method. To choose optimal excipient composition providing the sufficient pharmaco-technical properties of the tablet blend, mechanical strength of tablets and non-disintegrating, slow-dissolving behavior of compressed lozenges during sucking, 27 experimental formulations according to fractional factorial Latin cube design were prepared and tested. The excipients used in the study were: Mannogem® EZ, Cellactose® 80 and GalenIQ 721 (fillers); Plasdone S-630, Kollidon® 90 F and Avicel® PH-101 (dry binders); Metolose® 90SH-4000SR and guar gum (gel-forming binders); PRUV®, Neusilin® US2, and Compritol® 888 CG ATO (antifriction excipients). The following parameters were investigated as responses: bulk density, Carrs index, friability, resistance to crushing, and in vitro disintegration time. ANOVA approach was applied for statistical processing, which allowed to reveal the individual effects of each excipient and several interaction effects observed for the excipient amounts used in this study. Isomalt (GalenIQ 721), copovidone (Plasdone S-630), and glyceryl behenate (Compritol® 888 CG ATO) were selected to be incorporated in the final formulation of compressed lozenges.
Keywords: Analysis of variance; compressed lozenges; design of experiment; formulation development; glycine, magnesium citrate; stress-protective activity.