Pharmaceutical aid

1. Pharmaceutical Aids

2. Definition : The substances which are of little or no
therapeutic value, but are essentially used in
manufacture or compounding of various
pharmaceuticals are known as Pharmaceutical aids or
Pharmaceutic necessities.
Sources :
Animals : Bees wax, Lanolin
Vegetables : Acacia, Tragacanth
Minerals : Kaolin

3. Honey
• Synonyms : Madhu, Mel
• Biological source :
Sugary secretion deposited in honey comb by
the bees- Apis mellifica, Apis dorsata ,
and other species of Apis
• Family : Apidae
• Geographical Source : Africa, Australia, New
Zealand, California and India

4. Description :
• Colour : Pale yellow to yellowish brown
• Odour : Characteristic, Pleasant
• Taste : Sweet and faintly acrid
• Solubility : Soluble in water, Insoluble in
alcohol
• Chemical Constituents:
• • 35% glucose, 45% fructose, 2% sucrose
• • Dextrin, formic acid, enzymes
• • Succinic acid, Gums

5. Uses :
• Demulcent
• Sweetening agent
• Antiseptic
• Vehicle for Ayurvedic formulations
Storage :
Stored in well closed containers protected from light
and in cool dry place

6. Arachis Oil
• Synonyms : Ground nut oil, Peanut oil
• Biological Source : Fixed oil expressed from seeds of
Arachis hypogea (Family : Fabaceae)
• Geographical Source : Brazil, Southern United States, China,
Africa, India
ORAGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERS
• Color : Pale yellow colored liquid
• Odor : Faint and characteristic
• Taste : Bland and nut-like
• Solubility : Soluble in alcohol , Solvent ether, Chloroform

7. • Chemical constituents : Glycerides of fat acids
chiefly Oleic acid, Linoleic acid, Stearic acid
Arachidic acid, Lignoceric acid, Palmitic
acid
Uses : Solvent for intramuscular injections
In the preparation of
• Liniments
• Plasters
• Soaps
• Ointments
• Creams
Also used as lubricant, edible oil

8. Starch
• Synonyms : Amylum
• Biological source: Polysaccharide granules
obtained from the grains of
• Maize : Zea mays Rice : Oryza sativa
• Wheat : Triticum aestivum Family : Graminae
• Potato : Tubers of Solanum tuberosum
Family : Solanaceae

9. Geographical Source : Tropical countries
Sub tropical countries
Oragnoleptic Characters
Color :
Rice and maize - White
Wheat - Cream
Potato - Slightly yellowish
Odour : Odourless
Taste : Mucilaginous
Solubility : insoluble in cold water & alcohol

10. • Chemical Constituents: Mainly 2 polysaccharides Amylose (ß
amylose) and Amylopectin (α amylose)
• Test Amylose gives Blue color with iodine
• Amylopectin gives Bluish black color with iodine
Identification test :
1. 1gm of Starch + 15 ml of Water = Translucent Viscous jelly
2. Jelly + Iodine solution = Deep Blue color
Disappears on warming
Reappears on cooling

11. • Uses : Nutritive , Demulcent, Protective and absorbent
In preparation of Dusting talcum powder, As Antidote in
Iodine poisoning , Disintegrating agent in pills and
tablets
Diluent in solid extracts of drugs
Diagnostic aid
Glycerin of starch is as an Emollient
For manufacturing of liquid glucose, dextrose and dextrin
Industrially for sizing of paper and cloth

12. Kaolin
Synonyms : China clay, Kaolinum proderesum,
Porcelain clay
Source : Kaolin is purified native hydrated
Aluminium silicate free from Gritty particles
• Geographical Source : South Eastern United
states , England, France, India, China
• Types of Kaolin :
Heavy Kaolin – Purified form free from gritty particles
Light Kaolin – Limited to certain particle size
Natural light Kaolin – Free from gritty particles it does
not contain dispersing agent.

13. Description
Colour : Normally white,
often gets tinged to Grey, yellow
or Brown due to impurities
Odour : Odourless
Size : 10 µ to 690 µ
• Solubility : Insoluble in Water and in mineral acid
• It absorbs small amount of water
(Hygroscopic)
• Identification tests: Kaolin on charcoal block
with
• Cobalt nitrate= A Blue mass due to Alumina.

14. Uses :
• Adsorbent in the treatment of Enteritis, Colitis,
Dysentery and Alkaloidal & Food poisoning
• Externally as dusting powder
• Clarifying agent during filtration
• In Anticaking preparations, Cosmetics, Insecticides,
paints
• Source of Alumina
• Ingredient of toilet powders
• Base of disinfectant powders

15. Pectin
• Pectin is a complex carbohydrate found in nature
in the middle lamella of plant cells forming
colloidal solution in water.
• Biological source : By acid hydrolysis from inner
portion of the rind of citrus peels Citrus limonis
Family : Rutaceae

16. • Important sources :
• Lemon peel (Citrus limon (Rutaceae)}
• Orange peel (Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae))
• Apple Pomace [Malus pumila ( Malus)]
• Carrots (Daucus carota (Apiaceae))
• Sun flower heads (Helianthus annus
(Asteraceae))
• Papaya (Carica papaya {Caricaceae})
• Mangoes (Mangifera indica · {Mangifera} )

17. • Description :
• Colour : Cream or Yellowish powder
• Odour : Odourless
• Taste : Mucilaginous
• Solubility : Soluble in alcohol and other organic solvents
• Chemical Constituents: Total hydrolysis of pectin
yields D-galacturonic acid, Methyl alcohol, Traces of
Galactose and Arabinose.

18. Chemical tests :
1. 10% aqueous solution forms stiff gel on cooling
• 2. 5 ml of 1% solution + 2% KOH solution (Room
Temperature 15 minutes) = Transparent gel + +
dil.HCL= Gelatinous precipitate(Boil)= White
flocculent precipitate
• Uses :
• Treat Diarrhoea, Internal or External haemorrhage
• Emulsifying agent, Thickening agent for sauces, jams
• Encapsulating agent

19. Olive Oil
• Synonyms: Oleum olivae
• Biological Source: It is the fixed oil expressed from the
ripe fruits of Olea europoea Family : Oleaceae
• Description:
Colour : Pale yellow or greenish yellow
Odour : Slight and Characteristic
Taste : Bland, Faintly acrid
Solubility: Slightly soluble in Alcohol & miscible with
Carbon disulphide, Chloroform and ether

20. • Chemical Constituents : Olein , Palmitin,
Linolein
• Uses : Emollient and soothing agent
Used to soften the skin and crusts in eczema
and Psoriasis
Nutrient, Demulcent, Mild laxative
Used as vehicle for oily suspensions for
injections

21. Lanolin
• Synonyms: Hydrous wool fat,
Adeps lanae
• Biological source : It is the purified fat like
substance obtained from wool of the sheep
Ovis aries Family : Bovidae
• Geographical Source : Australia, USA, India

22. • Description :
• Color : Whitish yellow
• Odor : Faint and Characteristic
• Taste : Bland
• Solubility : Soluble in Chloroform
and solvent ether Insoluble in water
• Chemical Constituents: It contains esters of
Cholesterol, Isocholesterol with Carnaubic,
Palmitic, Myristic, Oleic, Lanoceric and
Lanopalmitic acids

23. Uses :
• Water absorbable ointment base
• An ingredient of water soluble creams and
cosmetic preparations
• Emollient

24. Yellow bees wax
• Synonyms : Bees wax, Cera-flava
Biological Source : It is obtained from honey-comb of
the bees Apis dorsata
Apis mellifica and other species of Apis Family :
Apidae
• Description
• Colour : Yellow to yellowish brown
Odour : Agreeable and Honey like

25. • Uses :
• Preparation of Ointments and Plasters and polishes
• Manufacture of the candles, moulds
• Preparation of Cosmetics like lipsticks, face creams

26. ACACIA GUM
Synonyms Acacia gum, Indian Gum and Gum Arabic.
Biological sources: It is the dried gummy
exudates obtained from stems & branches of Acacia
senegal & Acacia arabica (Leguminosae)
Geographical Source : In India occurs in Punjab, Rajasthan
Western Ghats. It also occurs in Sri Lanka & Africa

27. Description :
Colour : Tears are Cream brown to red, Powder is light brown
Odour : Odourless
Taste : Bland &mucilaginous
Size &shape :Tears are mostly spheroidal or ovoid in shape & have a
diameter of about 2.5–3.0 cm
Solubility : Soluble in water & Insoluble in alcohol
Appearance : Tears are invariably opaque either due to the presence
of cracks or fi ssures produced on the outer surface during the
process or ripening. The fracture is usually very brittle in nature and
the exposed surface appears to be glossy.

28. Chemical Constituents:
Arabin which is complex mixture of Ca, Mg & Potassium salts of Arabic acid
On hydrolysis gives L-rhamnose, D-galactose, D- glucuronic acid
• Enzyme Oxydase
Chemical Tests
• 1. Lead acetate test: An aqueous solution of acacia when treated with lead
acetate solution yields a heavy white precipitate.
• 2. Reducing sugars test: Hydrolysis of an aqueous solution of acacia with
dilute
• HC1 yields reducing sugars whose presence are ascertained by boiling
with Fehling’s solution to give a brick-red precipitate of cuprous oxide.
• Borax test: An aqueous solution of acacia affords a stiff translucent mass
on treatment with borax.
• 5. Specific test: A 10% aqueous solution of acacia fails to produce any
precipitate with dilute solution of lead acetate (a clear distinction from Agar
and Tragacanth); it does not give any colour change with Iodine solution (a
marked distinction from starch and dextrin);
• and it never produces a bluish-black colour with FeCl3 solution (an apparent
distinction from tannins).

29. • Uses The mucilage of acacia is employed as a demulcent
( relieving inflammation or irritation). It is used extensively
as a vital pharmaceutical aid for emulsification and to serve
as a thickening agent. It finds its enormous application as a
binding agent for tablets, for example, cough lozenges. It is
used in the process of ‘granulation’ for the manufacturing
of tablets. It is used in combination with gelatin to form
conservates for microencapsulation of drugs. It is employed
as colloidal stabilizer. It is used extensively in making of
candy and other food products. Gum acacia solution has
consistency similar to blood and is administered
intravenously in haemodialysis. It is used in the
manufacture of adhesives and ink, and as a binding
medium for marbling colors ( Marbling is the process of
floating paints on the surface of a thick cellulose solution
(called "size"), somewhat like oil on water).

30. Tragacanth
Synonym : Gum tragacanth, Tragacantha
Biological source : Dried gummy exudation obtain from incisions on stems & branches
of Astragalus gummifer, ( Leguminosae)
Geographical Source Various species of Astragalus which yield gum are abun- dantly
found in the mountainous region of Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq and the former U.S.S.R.
at an altitude of about 1,000–3,000 m. . In India it is found wild in Kumaon and
Garhwal region.
Organoleptic characters :
Colour: White or pale yellowish white
Odour & Taste :OdourLess & Taste less
Size : 25 x 12 x 2 mm
Shape: Thin, Flattened ribbon like flakes
Appearance: The gum is horny, translucent with transverse and longitudinal ridges
Fracture is short

31. • Chemical Constituents: It comprises two fractions: first, being water soluble
( ‘tragacanthin’) and the second, being water insoluble (‘bassorin’). Both
are not soluble in alcohol. Tragacanth gum is composed mainly of sugars
and uronic acid units . The acidic constituents tragacanthic acid on
hydrolysis yields galactose, xylose and galacturonic acid. A neutral
polysaccharide affords galactose and arabinose after its hydrolysis while a
third type is believed to be steroidal glycoside.
Chemical Tests
• 1. An aqueous solution of tragacanth on boiling with conc. HCl does not
develop a red colour.
• 2. It does not produce red colour with ruthenium red solution.
• 3. When a solution of tragacanth is boiled with few drops of FeCl3 [aqueous
10% (w/v)], it produces a deep-yellow precipitate.
• 4. It gives a heavy precipitate with lead acetate.
• 5. When tragacanth and precipitated copper oxide are made to dissolve in
conc. NH4OH, it yields a meager precipitate.

32. • Uses
It is used as a demulcent in cough and cold preparations and
to manage diarrhoea. It is used as an emollient (quality of
softening or soothing the skin.) in cosmetics. Tragacanth is
used as a thickening, suspending and as an emulsifying agent.
Mucilage of tragacanth is used as a binding agent in the
tablets and also as an excipient in the pills. Tragacanth powder
is used as an adhesive. It is also used in lotions for external
use and also in spermicidal jellies. It is also used as a stabilizer
for ice cream and sauces.

33. Sodium Alginate
• Synonyms : Algin, Sodium polymannuronate
• Biological source : It is the sodium salt of Alginic acid obtained
from the Algal species of
• Macrocystic pyrifera
• Laminaria hyperborea
• Laminaria digitata
• Ascophyllum nodosum
• Family : Phaeophyceae
• It is a purified carbohydrate extracted from brown seaweed (algae)
by treatment of dilute alkali.

34. • Geographical Source : Sea-weeds are found in Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, particularly in coastal lines of Japan, United
States, Canada, Australia and Scotland. In India, it is found
near the coast of Saurashtra.
Description :
Color : White to buff colored powder
Odour & Taste :Odourless & Tasteless
Solubility: Soluble in water, Insoluble in alcohol, Ether,
Chloroform & strong acids
Appearance: It is available either as a coarse or fi ne powder. It
is readily soluble in water forming viscous colloidal solution
and insoluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform and strong acids.
1% solution of gum at 20°C may have a viscosity in the range
of 20– 400 centipoises.

35. • Chemical Constituents
• Algin consists chiefly of the sodium salt of alginic acid, a
linear polymer of L-guluronic acid and D-mannuronic acid
• Identification Tests
• 1. Precipitate formation with Calcium chloride To a 0.5%
solution of the sample in sodium hydroxide, add one-fifth
of its volume of a 2.5% solution of calcium chloride. A
voluminous, gelatinous precipitate is formed. This test
distinguishes sodium alginate from gum arabic, sodium
carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, gelatin, gum ghatti,
karaya gum and tragacanth gum.
• Test for alginate
• Moisten 1–5 mg of the sample with water and add 1 ml of
acid ferric sulphate. Within 5 min, a cherry-red colour
develops that finally becomes deep purple.
• 4. 1% solution in water forms heavy gelatinous precipitate
with dilute sulphuric acid.

36. • Uses
High and medium viscosity grades of sodium alginate are used in the
preparation of paste, creams and for thickening and stabilizing
emulsions.
It is a good suspending and thickening agent, but a poor emulsifying
agent.
It is used as binding and disintegrating agent in tablets and lozenges.
In food industry, it is used for the preparation of jellies, ice cream, etc.
It is also used in textile industry.
For pharmaceutical purposes, when desired, it is sterilized by heating
in an autoclave.
Capsules containing sodium alginate and calcium carbonate are used
to protect inflamed areas near the entrance to the stomach.
The acidity of the stomach causes formation of insoluble alginic acid
and carbon dioxide; the alginic acid rises to the top of the stomach
contents and forms a protective layer.

37. Agar
• Synonyms : Agar-agar, Vegetable gelatin, Japanese-isinglass
• Biological Source : It is dried gelatinous substance obtained from
Gelidium amansii and other species of red algae like Gracilaria
and Pterocladia ( Gelidiacea)
• Geographical Source : Japan, Australia , New Zealand, USA and
India
Description:
Color : Yellowish grey or white
Odour : Odourless
Taste : Mucilaginous
Size: Sheets are 45 - 60 cm long & 10 - 15 cm wide
Shape : Strips, sheets, flakes or coarse powder
Solubility Insoluble in organic solvents, cold water but soluble in hot
water & forms a gelatinous solution on cooling .

38. Chemical constituents:
It is a complex heterosaccharide .Mainly Agarose &
Agaropectin. Agarose is for gel strength ,& Agaropectin
is responsible for viscosity
Chemical Tests
1. Agar responds positively to Fehling’s solution test.
2. Agar gives positive test with Molisch reagent.
3. To agar powder a solution of ruthenium red is added.
Red colour is formed indicating mucilage.
4. Agar is warmed in a solution of KOH. A canary yellow
colour is formed.
5. An aqueous solution of agar (1%) is prepared in
boiling water. On cooling it sets into a jelly.

39. Uses
Agar is used to treat chronic constipation, as a laxative, suspending agent,
an emulsifier, a gelating agent for suppositories, surgical lubricant ( are
substances used by health care providers to provide lubrication and lessen
discomfort to the patient during certain medical and surgical procedures
such as vaginal or rectal examinations), tablet excipient, disintegrant, in
production of medicinal encapsulation and ointment and as dental
impression mold base. It is extensively used as a gel in nutrient media for
bacterial cultures, as a substitute for gelatin and isinglass (a kind of gelatin
obtained from fish, and used in making jellies, glue, etc.), in making
emulsions , gel in cosmetic, as thickening agent in food especially
confectionaries and dairy products, in meat canning; sizing (substances
applied to, papers and textiles—to act as a protective filler or glaze. ) for
silk and paper; in dying and printing of fabrics and textiles; and in
adhesive.

40. Guar Gum
• Synonyms Guar gum, Jaguar gum, Guar flour
and Decorpa.
• Biological Source Guar gum is a seed gum
produced from the powdered endosperm of
the seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus Linn
belonging to family Leguminosae.
• Geographical Source : India, Pakistan and the
United States, Australia and Africa

41. Organoleptic Characters
Color: Colorless or pale yellowish- white colored powder
• Odour: Characteristic
• Taste: Gummy and characteristic
• Solubility : Dispersible in water forming colloidal solution .
Insoluble in alcohol
Chemical Constituents :
Water-soluble fraction is high molecular weight hydrocolloidal polysaccharide,
which is commonly known as guaran.
Guaran on hydrolysis yields 35% of Galactose and 65% of Mannose.
Guar gum also contains 5 to 7% proteins

42. Chemical Tests :
1. On being treated with iodine solution (0.1 N), it fails to give olive-
green coloration.
2. It does not produce pink colour when treated with Ruthenium Red
solution (distinction from sterculia gum and agar).
3. A 2% solution of lead acetate gives an instant white precipitate with
guar gum (distinction from sterculia gum and acacia).
4. A solution of guar gum (0.25 g in 10 ml of water) when mixed with
0.5 ml of benzidine (1% in ethanol) and 0.5 ml of hydrogen peroxide
produces no blue colouration (distinction from gum acacia).
5. Aqueous solution of guar gum is converted to a gel by addition of a
small amount of borax.

43. Uses:
Guar gum is used as a protective colloid, a
binding and disintegrating agent, emulsifying
agent, bulk laxative, appetite depressant and
in peptic ulcer therapy. Industrially, it is used
in paper manufacturing, printing, polishing,
textiles and also in food and cosmetic
industries. Guar gum is extensively used as
flocculent.
Guar gum has been shown to decrease serum
total cholesterol levels by about 10–15%

44. GELATIN
• Synonym : Gelatine: edible jelly, gelatin.
• Biological source: Gelatin is a product obtained by partial
hydrolysis of collagenous materials. It is derived by boiling
animal tissues like Skin, Tendons, Ligaments, Bones
Cartilage of domestic pig (Sus scrofa, genus: Sus) and cows
( Bos taurus, genus Bos,)
DESCRIPTION :
Color : Colorless or pale yellow
Odor : Characteristic
Taste : Slight and broth-like
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Contains bout 17 to 20% of moisture.
Gelatin chemically a protein known as Glutin.On hydrolysis it yields
non essential amino acids

45. Identification tests:
1.Aq. soln. of Gelatin + Soln of Trinitrophenol+ Soln of Tannic acid=
Precipitate
2. Gelatin solution + Soda lime (heating) = Ammonia gas
Uses :
• In manufacture of Capsules, pastilles, suppositories, urethral bogies,
pastes and several cosmetic preps.
• Antidote for halogen poisoning.
• Substitute for blood plasma (in form of 6% Solution)
• In Bacteriology, preparation of nutrient media.
• As finishing agent in leather manufacturing Industry