Ag254

The friability of tablets (S30–S35) was conducted following the USP 43-NF 38 guideline, <1216> chapter “Tablet friability” [26 ] using PTF 100 instrument by Pharma Test (Hainburg, Germany) and an analytical balance with a readability of 0.01 mg (AG254, Mettler Toledo, Greifensee, Switzerland). For tablets with a unit weight equal to or less than 650 mg, a sample of whole tablets corresponding as near as possible to 6.5 g was taken. For tablets with a unit weight of more than 650 mg, a sample of 10 whole tablets was taken. The tablets were carefully de-dusted before placing them in the drum. The drum was rotated 100 times. Any loose dust from tablets was removed, and tablets were visually inspected and accurately weighted. The USP requirements were fulfilled if the weight loss was not more than 1%. Samples were analyzed in triplicate.

The contents of dietary supplement dosage forms were combined before loss on drying evaluation to ensure homogeneity. A total of 20 dosage units of each hard-shell capsule (S1–S25) were opened to collect powder; the samples were ground if necessary. A total of 20 dosage units of each tablet (S30–S35) were powered using a porcelain mortar and pestle. A total of 10 g of powder and resin samples (S36–S51) was ground into a fine powder and mixed thoroughly. The samples were weighed (about 1.0 g) using the analytical balance AG254 (Mettler Toledo, Greifensee, Switzerland) and distributed on the aluminum sample plates (90 mm) as evenly as practicable to a depth of about 5 mm before being transferred into moisture analyzer DBS-60-3 (Kern and Sohn GmbH, Balingen, Germany) according to the protocol described in USP 43-NF 38 guidelines, <731> chapter “Loss on drying” in triplicate [30 ]. The procedure was performed at a temperature of 105 °C until constant weight.