Formulation and evaluation of Costus igneus herbal lollipops for diabetes management

Objectives: This study aims to develop and evaluate the efficacy of herbal lollipops incorporating Costus igneus extract for diabetes management. Materials and Methods: The powdered Costus igneus material was subjected to extraction using ethanol by Soxhlet extraction method. The extract was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a concentrated extract. Various formulations of herbal lollipops were prepared using different concentrations of Costus igneus extract, along with suitable excipients like stevia, binder and colors. Results: The formulated lollipops showed the uniformity in weight and thickness. The hardness of all formulated lollipops was found within the standard range up to 9.65 to 10.50 kg/cm2. From the in-vitro drug release study, it was found that the formulations of lollipops containing corn syrup in the concentrations of 100, 90 and 80 mg showed the maximum drug release at 30 minutes. Among those formulations formulation F9 showed 100.6% of drug release. The in-vitro release kinetic study of the optimized formulation (F9) was found to be first order. The release of the dosage form follows the diffusion and dissolution mechanism and Non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. Conclusion: These findings suggest that herbal lollipops containing Costus igneus hold promise as a novel and effective alternative for managing diabetes.