Development of a New Dosage Form of Herbal Medicinal Products

The «cut-and-pressed granules» dosage form was developed to improve the technological properties of cut and powdered herbal substances in order to compensate for their insufficient flowability, as well as to facilitate dosing, reduce the contamination of the production equipment with dust and contamination of water extracts with dietary fibers. Based on the results of the information research the authors chose an optimal technology for the production of cut-and-pressed granules from some types of herbal substances (Rose hips, Bearberry leaf, Thyme herb, Melissa herb, Oregano herb, Motherwort grass, Matricaria flower). The authors standardised the new dosage form, developed the list of test parameters, test methods, and regulatory requirements for the quality of medicinal products based on the technological features of the new dosage form. Cut-and-pressed granules should not be produced from herbal substances that contain essential oils and coumarins, as it was demonstrated that the content of these compounds may decrease in the process of wet granulation. To determine whether it is possible to produce cut-and-pressed granules from a particular type of raw material, it is necessary to conduct comparative experimental studies confirming that the quality of aqueous extracts obtained from powdered herbal substances in sachets is comparable to that of tinctures or decoctions obtained from cut-and-pressed granules packed in sachets. The materials of the study were used to draft the general chapter OFS.1.4.1.0022.15 «Cut-and-pressed granules». This dosage form is not described in any foreign pharmacopoeias.