Evaluation of ebastine-loaded orally disintegrating tablets using new apparatus of detecting disintegration time and e-tongue system

The aim of this study was to predict the palatability of ebastine-loaded orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs). The disintegration time of the ODTs was measured using the OD-mate while their bitterness was measured using electronic tongue (e-tongue). Principal component analysis was carried out on the e-tongue data of the ODT solutions, and the Euclidean distances between a solution of quinine hydrochloride and each sample solution were calculated. The disintegration times determined by the OD-mate correlated well with those obtained in human sensation tests, while the Euclidean distances calculated from e-tongue analysis correlated with the bitterness scores obtained in human sensation tests. The OD-mate and the e-tongue were able to predict accurately the disintegration times and bitterness expression of ODTs, both of which are important in determining their palatability. The ability of the OD-mate and the e-tongue to predict palatability will be useful in evaluating ODTs without using human sensation tests.