[Characterization methods of flowability of traditional Chinese medicine powders].
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the flowability of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) powders by using appropriate methods.


METHODS
With highly flowable direct compression excipients and Chinese traditional medicine powder as raw materials, the flowability of material powders is determined by the Carr method and the Jenike method.


RESULTS
The Carr method and the Jenike method for the determination of the flowability of Chinese herb extract powder and direct-pressing excipients have no obvious difference. But the flowability of Chinese herb extract powder is not as good as direct compression excipients.


CONCLUSIONS
From the characterization results of both methods, we can find that the Carr method better reflects the actual flowability of TCM extracts, while the Jenike method can be used for guiding the design of the hopper device.
Engineering Research Center of Modem Preparation Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
Yan
Y
Du
Lijie
L
Zhao
Yi
Y
Feng
Desheng
D
Xu
Xiaohai
X
Li
Songtao
S
Wang
D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010316:Particle Size; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry
D011208:Powders