Evaluation of the Formulation of Combined Dosage Form of Albendazole and Mebendazole through In vitro Physicochemical and Anthelmintic Study

Abstract

In the current study, the combination of albendazole and mebendazole was analyzed as a potential
anthelmintic agent against Lumbricus terrestris (commonly known as earthworms). The in vitro analysis showed the
combination of 400 mg albendazole and 300 mg mebendazole had more significant therapeutic activities (mean
paralysis time 58 minutes and mean death time 97.33 minutes) than the others. Then the combinations were
formulated as tablet using different ratios of excipients where formulation-D performed excellent flow properties
(Carr’s index: 14.04±0.27, Hausner’s ratio: 1.19 ± 0.03, Angle of repose: 40.22 ± 0.73). The dosage form prepared
from formulation-D had better hardness of 9.40 ± 0.34 kg-N and loss of weight of 0.003 mg compared to other
formulations. In terms of disintegration and dissolution studies, formulation-D exhibited excellent properties. The
tablet was disintegrated fully within 8.94 ± 0.37 minutes in phosphate buffer (pH 8.3) and dissolution analysis
showed R2 of 0.995 for albendazole and 0.991 for mebendazole which were statistically significant. The postformulation
anthelmintic study showed that the prepared tablet dosage form was therapeutically effective because it
paralyzed and killed all the earthworms within 56 and 85 minutes, respectively. Finally, the tablet was subjected to
the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis which confirmed better surface morphology and drug-drug
compatibility within the dosage form. The next stage of the work will focus on in vivo analysis for market
preparation.