Evaluation of acid neutralizing and buffering capacities of selected antacids in Ghana

Abstract
This study has evaluated the acid neutralizing and buffering capacities (BC) of nine selected antacid brands (“L1-L9”) in Ghana. The active acid neutralizing ingredients were recorded and the preliminary antacid test (PAT) determined with 0.5 N HCl after 10 min. The acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) was evaluated with 1 N HCl by neutralizing the excess with 0.5 N NaOH after 15 min stirring. Buffering capacity (BC) was estimated with 0.1 N HCl and titrated with 0.1 N NaOH at 5 min interval up to 50 min. All determination were at 37±3 °C using a pH meter. All brands had as part of their active ingredients dried aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, with 67% containing simethicone as antifoam. The PAT declared all brands to be antacids with pH range of 4.38 ± 0.21– 6.43 ± 0.06. The ANC of all brands were in the range 13.16 ± 0.55–20.70 ± 0.18 mEq/g with “L4” and “L9” having the lowest and highest values respectively. “L9” further demonstrated a considerably higher BC up to 40 min whiles “L6” had the least BC up to 15 min. The ability of an antacid to have a high ANC and to resist significant changes in pH (longer BC) is crucial in assuring quality and efficacy of the brand.
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Citation
Isaac Ayensu, Samuel Oppong Bekoe, Joseph Kwasi Adu, Abena Amponsaa Brobbey, Enoch Appiah, Evaluation of acid neutralizing and buffering capacities of selected antacids in Ghana, Scientific African, Volume 8, 2020, e00347, ISSN 2468-2276, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00347.
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