Release characteristics of paracetamol and oleuropein from Mech-Degla date fruit tablets enriched and non-enriched with freeze-dried olive leaf extract

Release characteristics of paracetamol from date (Phoenix dactylifera L., var. Mech-Degla) fruit tablets enriched and non-enriched with freeze-dried olive leaf extract (OLE) were studied. For this, two types of tablets (T) were obtained by direct compression: (1) T1 from P1-powder blend, containing 60% date powder (DP) and 40% paracetamol, and (2) T2 from P2-powder blend, containing 57% DP, 40% paracetamol, and 3% OLE. The release of paracetamol was studied in phosphate buffer (pH6.8) and HCl solution (0.1N). Additionally, the oleuropein released was investigated in the case of T2-tablets. Based on obtained results, P1- and P2-powder blends showed acceptable flow properties in terms of Hausner's ratio (1.30, in the case of P2) and angle of repose for both P1 (31 degrees) and P2 (33 degrees). Dissolution study showed that the released paracetamol achieved 80% after 70min, whereas the oleuropein release was almost complete after 30min. On the other hand, the Peppas model described correctly dissolution kinetics of both paracetamol (R-2=0.99) and oleuropein (R-2=0.89) whatever the applied dissolution medium. Furthermore, the presence of OLE in T2-tablets enhanced their microbiological shelf-life.