Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: F002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.F002
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, F002 (2025)
Physicochemical quality evaluation of slippery elm bark hard capsules
Petra Bajt1*, Jelena Kovačić2, Ana Dekanić2, Ana Mornar2, Daniela Amidžić Klarić2
1 Center for Translational Research and Innovations in Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Ante Kovačića 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Ante Kovačića 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author: pbajt@pharma.hr
Abstract
Slippery elm bark dietary supplements, available in tablets, capsules and other forms, have been traditionally used for treating conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and sore throat. Despite their widespread use, quality control of these dietary supplements remains insufficiently studied, with limited data on their physicochemical properties and compliance with established pharmacopeial criteria. This study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties of 6 commercially available slippery elm bark hard capsules used as dietary supplements. The monobotanical samples were collected from health food stores and subjected to a series of standardized analyses, including weight variation, loss on drying, disintegration and swelling index. All analyses were conducted following the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia and the European Pharmacopoeia. It is assumed that the samples do not comply with these crucial standards due to previously reported quality issues in dietary supplements. The average net weights of the analyzed samples ranged from 510.5 to 817.1 mg. One sample failed to meet regulatory requirements (90-110%) due to the percentage of the average weight of two individual intact capsules (85.4% and 87.2%) being below. This highlights the need for stricter weight uniformity control. This highlights the need for stricter weight uniformity control. All samples complied with the prescribed criteria in the loss on drying test, with moisture content values ranging from 4.29% to 7.75%, indicating acceptable moisture levels. The disintegration test revealed that 67% of the samples fully disintegrated within 30 minutes, demonstrating adequate disintegration properties. However, two samples failed to disintegrate within the stipulated time. In the swelling index test, the average swelling value of all samples was 5.23 and the highest swelling value was 14.5. The highest value indicates greater mucilage content, which may contribute to enhanced soothing effects on the respiratory and digestive tracts. Our findings align with previous research highlighting similar failures of dietary supplements to meet pharmacopeial criteria and the need for more rigorous quality control. Consequently, further studies on slippery elm bark capsules are needed to assess compliance with pharmacopeial requirements.
Keywords: dietary supplement, physicochemical quality, hard capsule, slippery elm bark
How to cite
P. Bajt, J. Kovačić, A. Dekanić, A. Mornar, D. Amidžić Klarić, 2025. Physicochemical quality evaluation of slippery elm bark hard capsules. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.F002