Fenugreek seed mucilage-alginate mucoadhesive beads of metformin HCl: Design, optimization and evaluation

► Fenugreek seed mucilage (FSM)-alginate mucoadhesive beads containing metformin HCl was developed. ► Effects of process parameters on properties of FSM-alginate beads containing metformin HCl was optimized by 32 factorial design. ► These beads showed pH-sensitive swelling and good mucoadhesive property. ► The in vitro drug release followed zero-order with super case-II transport mechanism. ► Oral administration of the optimized beads proved prolonged hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.