Kimberley Anne See 1

2A-Pharmacy
Preparation 8: White Ointment
EXPERIMENT:
Category: ointment, official USP
Ingredients:
white wax
white petrolatum
Synonym: Salve
Chrisma
Simple ointment
Unguentum simplex
Description: white semisolid preparation that is
insoluble in water
Method of preparation: fusion method
Computations:

Packaging: 10 gram ointment jar, glassine paper

Label: red (external)
POST-LAB:
Ointment
-semi-solid preparation intended for external
application to skin and mucous membranes
Methods of preparation:
Levigation
-mechanical incorporation performed by
trituration in a mortar or on a slab with spatula
and an ointment tile (porcelain/glass)
-drug material is levigated with the vehicle or a
miscible liquid component (propylene glycol,
mineral oil) to form a concentrate
-concentrate is diluted GEOMETRICALLY w/ the
remainder of the base
Fusion
-use of heat
-heat 1st the substance w/ the HIGH MELTING
POINT using water bath
-then add soft and oleginous material

Ointment bases:
Hydrocarbon bases (oleaginous bases)
-usually petrolatum modified waxes/liquid
petrolatum
-not water-washable, occlusive, anhydrous,
insoluble in water
Ex: synthetic ester, benzoinated lard, olive oil,
cottonseed oil, lanolin derivatives
Absorption bases
-hydrophilic
-can absorb water
-anhydrous material or hydrous bases
-non water-washable
Ex: hydrophilic petrolatum, wool fat (anhydrous
lanolin), aquaphor, aquabase, polysorb
Water-removable bases
-oil-in-water bases
-water-washable
-most commonly used type of ointment base
Ex: Hydrophilic ointment, USP, dermvase,
velvachol, univase, Galens cream, petrolatum
rose water ointment
Water-soluble bases
-water-washable; greaseless
Ex: polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol
ethanol
Uses:
Emollient
Protection against escape of moisture
(occlusive dressing)
Used as a vehicle
Preparation 9: Zinc Oxide Ointment
EXPERIMENT:
Category: medicated ointment, official USP
Ingredients:
Zinc oxide
Mineral oil (density: 0.8498)
White ointment
Method of preparation: mechanical incorporation
Computations:

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2A-Pharmacy
Computations:

Packaging: 10 gram ointment jar, glassine paper

Label: red (external)
POST-LAB:
Ointment
-also known as salve or chrisma
Types:
Unmedicated ointments
-serve as vehicles
-protective
-emollient
-lubricant
Medicated ointments
Characteristics of ointments:
Homogenous, smooth, free from grittiness
Easily spreadable
Never be dispensed if they have slight evidence
of rancidity or mold
Container:
Ointment jars
-available in clear, opal, amber, and green
glass, white or green plastic ointment jars
Collapsible tubes
**avoid prolonged exposure exceeding 30 degrees
Celsius
Preparation 10: Sulfur Ointment
EXPERIMENT:
Category: medicated ointment, official USP
Ingredients:
precipitated sulfur
mineral ointment
white ointment
Synonym: Unguentum sulfuris
Description: yellow, semisolid preparation
Method of preparation: mechanical incorporation
>Precipitated sulfur: active ingredient
>Base: white ointment
>Levigating agent: mineral oil
**nlt 9.5% and nmt 10.5% sulfur

Packaging: 10 gram ointment jar, glassine paper

Label: red (external)
POST-LAB:
Steel and iron spatula
-do not use for ointments containing free acids,
iodine, mercury or tannin
**Diff. between yellow and white wax
**Collapsible tubes are preferable than ointment
jars
Preparation 11: Cinnamon water
EXPERIMENT:
Category: non-medicated aromatic water, NF
Ingredients:
cinnamon oil
purified water
Synonym: Aqua cinnamon
Sargon cassia
Casia nare
Cassia oil
Description: clear, colorless, saturated aqueous
solution w/ cinnamon odor and taste
Method of preparation: direct solution method
Computations:

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2A-Pharmacy
Packaging: 30 mL narrow-mouth amber bottle
**store in a light resistant container
Label: white (internal)
POST-LAB:
Solution
-homogenous mixture of solid, liquid, gas
Types:
Aqueous solution
Non-aqueous solution
hydroalcoholic
-elixir
oleaginous
-oil
-oleovitamin
ethereal
-ether
-collodion
Aromatic waters
-clear, aqueous solutions saturated with volatile oils
or other aromatic or volatile substances
-should be free from empyreumatic (smoke-like)
-used as flavored and perfumed vehicle
Methods of preparation:
Distillation
-most satisfactory method of preparation
-slowest and most expensive method
Ex: rose water
Cohobationrepeatedly using the distillate to
distill w/ fresh portions of flowers/plant materials
to minimize loss of water soluble components]
ex: orange/rose flowers
Solution
Direct Solution Method
-repeatedly shaking 2g or 2mL of the volatile
substance w/ 1000mL purified water
-set aside mixture for 12 hrs
-filter w/ wetted filtered paper
-more convenient than distillation (in terms
of time and equipment)
-DO NOT AGITATE WHEN DRAWING OFF
AROMATIC WATER IF THE EXCESS VOLATILE
OIL IS ALLOWED TO REMAIN
Alternate Solution Method
-most frequently employed where aromatic
waters may be prepared by incorporating

the volatile oil with 15 g of talc w/ a

sufficient quantity of siliceous earth or
pulped filter paper
-Purified water (1000 mL) is added
-mixture is agitated for 10 mins
-water is filtered
Dispersing agentincreases the surface of volatile
substance ensuring more rapid saturation of water
and forms an efficient filter bed thus producing a
clear solution
Disadvantages
Not permanently stable
Protect from excessive light and heat
Deterioration may be due to volatilization
Decomposition/mold growth
Cloudy preparation and foul odor
Preparation 12: Concentrated peppermint water
EXPERIMENT:
Category: medicated aromatic water, unofficial
Ingredients:
Peppermint oil
90% ethyl alcohol
Purified talc
Purified water
Synonym: Aqua menthos piperitas
Aqua mini
Brandy water
Method of preparation: Alternate solution method
Computations:

Packaging: 30 mL narrow-mouth amber bottle

Label: white (internal)
POST-LAB:
Uses
Flavored vehicle

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2A-Pharmacy

Carminative (GI)

Preparation 13: Calcium Hydroxide Topical Solution

EXPERIMENT:
Category: topical solution, official USP
Ingredients:
calcium oxide
purified water
Synonym: lime water
Description: clear, colorless, alkaline solution
Use: astringent and employed in dermatological
situations
Method of preparation: simple solution
Computations:

Packaging: flint bottle

Label: red (external)
POST-LAB:
Solutions
-liquid preparations that contain one or more
chemical substances dissolved in a suitable solvent
-mixture of mutually miscible solvents
-homogenous mixture of 2 or more substances
Relative terms of Solubility
Descriptive Term

Very soluble
Freely soluble
Soluble
Sparingly soluble
Slightly soluble
Very slightly soluble
Practically insoluble or
insoluble

Parts of Solvent
Required for 1 Part of
Solute
<1
1-10
10-30
30-100
100-1000
1000-10,000
>10000

Methods of preparation:
Simple solution
-dissolving the solute in a suitable solvent
Ex: NaCl solution, strong iodine solution
Solution by chemical reaction
-prepared by reacting two or more solute w/
each other in a suitable solvent
Ex: aluminum subacetate solution, magnesium
citrate solution, sulfurated lime solution
Solution by distillation
-if the solute is a volatile oil
Solution by extraction
-drug or pharmaceutical necessities of
vegetable or animal origin
-also called EXTRACTIVES
Different methods of extraction:
Maceration
-submerging the solute
-no specific temperature
Percolation
-submerging the solute using a
percolator
Digestion
-with the aid of gentle heat
Infusion
-blanching
-addition of hot water [like tea bags]
Decoction
-boiling for 15 minutes
Preparation 14: Strong Iodine Solution
EXPERIMENT:
Category: topical solution, official USP
Ingredients:
iodine crystals
purified water
potassium iodideused as a SOLUBILIZING agent
Synonym: Lugols solution
liquor iodi
aqueous iodine solution
Description: deep brown color w/ iodine flavor
Use: antiseptic, germicidal, fungicidal
Method of preparation: simple solution
***VERY SLIGHTLY SOLUBLE
Computations:

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2A-Pharmacy

Packaging: 15 mL narrow-mouth amber bottle

Label: red (external)
POST-LAB:
100 mL
-4.5-5.5 g iodine
-9.5-10.5 g KI
* 1g I dissolves in 2950 mL H2O
Strong iodine solutionsolution of polyiodies in
excess iodide
-antigotriogenic
Usual dose: 0.3 mL/3x a day
Preparation 15: Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution
EXPERIMENT:
Category: oral solution, official USP
Ingredients:
magnesium carbonate
syrup
lemon oil
anhydrous citric acid
talc
potassium bicarbonate
purified water
Synonym: Lemonada purgante
Magnesi citralis
Citrate of magnesia
Use: saline cathartic
Method of preparation: solution by chemical
reaction
Computations:

Packaging:
Label: white (internal)
POST-LAB:
Magnesium citrate oral solution
-colorless to slightly yellow clear effervescent liquid
-sweet, acidulous taste
-lemon flavor
-prone to GROWTH OF MOLDS
-any mold spores must be killed during production
for stability
Preparation 16: Simple syrup
EXPERIMENT:
Category: simple syrup
Ingredients:
sucrose
purified water
Synonym: syrupus
sirup, syrup
Description: clear solution of sucrose in purified
water
Use: sweetening agent
sweet vehicle
basis for many flavored and medicated syrup
Method of preparation: percolation
Computations:

Packaging: 100 mL flint bottle

Label: white(internal)
Procedure:

Kimberley Anne See 6

2A-Pharmacy
1. Weigh ingredients
2. Set-up percolator
3. Place moistened cotton into the neck of the
percolator [to control flow rate (in drops); 20
drops/ minute] Once achieved, clip rubber
tubing
4. Add sucrose then place circular filter paper
over it. Marbles may be placed to keep the
filter paper on top of the sucrose
5. Pour water gently and cover the set up w/
watch glass
6. Let the set up stand for 2 days
7. Release syrup into the erlenmeyer flask
8. Transfer to suitable container
POST-LAB:
Syrup
-concentrated aqueous solution containing sugar
usually SUCROSE (a disaccharide) or any sugar
substitute
Polyols
-added to retard crystallization of sucrose
-increases solubility of sucrose
ex: glycerine, sorbitol
Types of syrup:
Simple syrup
-clear, concentrated, sweet, aqueous,
hypertonic solution with STRIATIONS (higher the
concentration, more striations)
-concentration: 85% w/v or 65% w/w
-specific gravity: 1.313
-self preserving
*60-80% concentration makes it self-preserving
*lower than 60% concentration: prone to
microbial growth
*greater than 85% concentration: can
CRYSTALLIZE the sucrose present
Flavored/non-medicated syrup
-aromatic and pleasantly flavored substance
-intended as a vehicle
-does not contain any active ingredient
-helpful in pediatric patients
Examples:

>Glycyrhizza syrupmask bitter taste of

alkaloids
>Chocolate syrupserve as flavorant
>Cherry syrup
Medicated syrup
-aqueous solution of sucrose that contains
PHARMACEUTICALLY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS and
has a THERAPEUTIC EFFECT
Examples:
>Ipecac syrup
>Ferrous sulfate syrup

Methods of preparation:
Solution without the aid of heat
-mixing ingredients in a large vessel
Advantage/s:
avoids heat induced conversion
suited for heat sensitive ingredients
Disadvantage/s:
Slowest and most time consuming method
Example: Ferrous sulfate syrup
Solution with the aid of heat
-rapid method because of heat
-can only be used for heat stable substances
Advantage/s:
Fast method
Disadvantage/s:
Excessive heating will cause INVERSION
**Inversiona hydrolytic reaction
-sucroseglucose + fructose
-sweeter syrup with tendency to FERMENT +
MICROBIAL GROWTH
-caramelization [overheating; >100 C]
Examples:
>Acacia syrup
>Cocoa syrup
>Syrup, USP
Percolation
-a PERCOLATOR or a COLUMN is used
-flow rate of water: 20 drops/minute
*percolatorallow the passage of water slowly
thru a bed of crystalline sucrose and will
eventually dissolve the sugar
Examples:
>Tolu balsam

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2A-Pharmacy

>Simple syrup
Addition of sucrose to medicated liquid
-simple admixture of a sugar
-usually a FLUIDEXTRACT or a TINCTURE
-NOT self-preserving
Example:
>Senna syrup

Preparation 17: Chocolate syrup

EXPERIMENT:
Category: non-medicated syrup
Ingredients:
Cocoa powder
Sucrose
Liquid glucose
Glycerin
Sodium chloride
Vanillin
Sodium benzoate
purified water
Synonym: Cacao syrup
chocolate flavored syrup
Description: viscous, dark brown syrup w/ the odor
and taste of cocoa
Use: flavored vehicle
Method of preparation: solution with the aid of heat
Computations:

Packaging: 15 mL amber bottle

Label: white (internal)
Procedure:
1. Triturate sucrose, mix cocoa powder

2. In a beaker, dissolve liquid glucose,

vanillin, sodium benzoate and sodium
chloride in 8 mL purified water
3. Add glycerine to the solution
4. Mix cocoa mixture to the solution
5. Heat to boiling for 3 mins. Cool.
6. Add enough water
POST-LAB:
Boiled for >3 mins?
Inversion will take place [especially the sucrose]
*Cocoa containing NMT 12% non-volatile ether
soluble extractives or fats having a minimum
tendency to separate
Sodium benzoate and glycerine
-PRESERVATIVES
-prevents bacterial and mold growth when sucrose
concentration is low
Preparation 18: Acacia Mucilage
EXPERIMENT:
Category: mucilage
Ingredients:
Acacia
Benzoic acid
Purified water
Synonym: Mucilage of acacia
Mucilage of acaciae
Mucilage of gum arabic
Mucilage de gomme
Description: thick, adhesive liquid with light brown
color
Use: demulcent
suspending agent
employed as an excipient in making pills and
troches
emulsifying agent for cod liver oil and other
substances
Computations:

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2A-Pharmacy

Packaging: 15 mL flint bottle

Label: white (internal)
Procedure:
1. Dissolve benzoic acid in 4 mL purified
water by the direct heating method
2. Triturate acacia powder
3. Add benzoic acid solution to the acacia
powder
4. Mix by trituration
5. Add water to make 15 mL preparation
6. Strain using cheese cloth (if necessary)
POST-LAB:
Mucilage
-thick, viscid, adhesive liquid prepared by dispersing
gum in water
-extracting the mucilaginous principle from
vegetable substance with water
-prone to decomposition
-must never be made in large quantities
Uses: suspending agent in suspensions
emulsifying agent in emulsions
excipient in tablet formation
demulcent
Preservativemust be added to prolong shelf life
Natural gum: acacia, tragacanth, karaya, ghatti
Synthetic gum: methycellulose, polyvinyl alcohol,
carboxymethylcellulose