Dissolution test for silymarin tablets and capsules

Silybine (SBN), isosilybine (ISBN), silycristine (SCN), silydianine (SDN), and taxifoline (TXF) are the main active flavonoids commonly found in the d ried fruits of Silybum marianum, Gaertner (Compositae). Concentrations of t hese compounds, except TXF, are usually expressed together as silymarin con tent. This paper describes a simple dissolution test developed to estimate silymarin (Sl) in pharmaceutical formulations. Five commercial products wer e tested using this new method (including tablets, sugar tablets, and capsu les): two from Argentina, one from Brazil, one from Spain, and one from Ita ly. Results demonstrated that, provided the dosage form disintegrates, amou nts dissolved range from 50 to 90% of the labeled value. Products were anal yzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV spectrophotome try.