The present study was undertaken to develop oral sustained release tablets of metoprolol tartrate using natural hydrophilic matrix formers (xanthan gum and tragacanth). Sustained release matrix tablets of metoprolol tartrate were prepared by using different ratios of drug, xanthan gum and tragacanth. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was used as diluent. The polymer was incorporated into a matrix system using direct compression technique. Different formulations were evaluated with respect to dissolution profile in 900 mL phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), 0.1 M HCl solution and distilled water for 12 h at 37°C. Increasing the amount of polymer (xanthan gum) in the formulation led to slow release of drug. The kinetic treatment showed the best fitted different mathematical models (Zero order, First order, Higuchiís and Hixson-Crowell). Most of the solid matrix formulations followed Higuchi or zero order kinetics. The formulations F1, F2, F3 and F7, F8, F9 showed maximum linearity. The results showed that the formulation F9 containing 30% xanthan gum and 10% gum tragacanth is the most similar to that of the reference marketed preparation.

Use of a natural hydrophilic polymer matrix system is a popular approach in formulating a controlled release dosage form. To achieve improved, sustained release of the drug, various formulations of Metoprolol Tartrate have been formulated in the present study for matrix tablets using two natural polymers i.e. Xanthan gum and gum Tragacanth.