FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL ORAL REHYDRATION EFFERVESCENT TABLETS

ABSTRACTOral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) is an effective and economical method used for theprevention and treatment of dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and excessivefluid loss. Conventional Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) are widely used to restoreelectrolyte and fluid balance; however, they often suffer from drawbacks such as unpleasanttaste, poor patient compliance, difficulty in transportation, and reduced convenience duringuse. To overcome these limitations, the present study focused on the formulation and evaluationof Herbal ORS Effervescent Tablets using natural herbal ingredients and essential electrolytes.The formulation contained herbal ingredients such as amla, tulasi, ginger, and coriander alongwith sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, tartaric acid, trisodium citrate,and suitable pharmaceutical excipients. The effervescent tablet dosage form was selected toimprove portability, palatability, rapid dissolution, and patient acceptance. Tablets wereprepared by direct compression method and evaluated for organoleptic properties, weightvariation, hardness, friability, pH, effervescence time, and stability studies.The results showed that all evaluation parameters were within acceptable pharmaceuticallimits. The prepared tablets exhibited good mechanical strength, rapid effervescence, pleasanttaste. The herbal ingredients also contributed additional antioxidant, antimicrobial, digestive,and immune-supporting properties.The study concluded that Herbal ORS Effervescent Tablets can be considered a promising,patient-friendly, and convenient alternative to conventional ORS formulations for effectivemanagement of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.