MAKAUT/SEM 1/ PHARMACEUTICAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY/ UNIT 3/GASTROINTESTINAL AGENTS_CATHARTICS
BY
KUNAL DATTA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
B.PHARM , M.PHARM
NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY
3. • Laxatives, purgatives, or cathartics are the drugs
that loosen stools and increase bowel movements.
• They are used to treat or prevent Constipation.
• Constipation is the infrequent or difficult
evacuation of the faeces.
4. To ease defecation in patients
To relieve acute constipation Or
To clear bowels before surgery
To remove solid material from intestinal
tract
Uses of Cathartics
5. Types of Cathartics
Laxative or aperient: Milder action, elimination of
soft but formed stools. Onset of action: 12-72 hours.
Purgative: Purgative are moderate laxative. Onset of
action: 6-8 hours.
Cathartic: Stronger action resulting in more fluid
evacuation. Onset of action: 0.5-3 hours (oral), 2-15
minutes (rectal)
9. Properties
• Appearance : White crystalline solid or colorless
crystals
• Odor: Odourless
• Taste: Bitter saline or cooling taste
• Melting point: 150 degree C
• Solubility: freely soluble in water and Slightly
soluble in alcohol
11. Preparation
• Industrial scale:
Magnesium sulphate is prepared from DOLOMITE
(MgCO3• CaCO3) by using dil. sulfuric acid.
MgCO3• CaCO3 + 2H2SO4 → MgSO4 + CaSO4 + 2H2O + 2CO2
12. Assay
• Weigh accurately 0.3gm of sample and dissolve in
50 ml of water and add 10 ml of Strong ammonia-
ammonium chloride solution, titrate the solution
with 0.05M Disodium EDTA using 0.1g of Mordant
Black 11 mixture as indicator. Until the pink color
gets discharged from blue.
13. Uses
It is used as osmotic laxative (Saline Cathartics), in
treatment of electrolyte deficiency, in wet dressing in
boils, in treatment of cholecystitis (Cholecystitis is
inflammation of the gallbladder. Symptoms include right upper abdominal
pain, nausea, vomiting, and occasionally fever) , Sea sickness and
Hypertension.
24. Physical Properties
• Appearance : Slightly plastic like and white in color
• Odor: Odourless
• Taste: Clay like taste
• Solubility: Insoluble in water and alcohol
25. Chemical Properties
• On Heating kaolin losses water molecule.
• It is decomposed by boiling with Conc. H2SO4.
26. Preparation
It is Hydrated aluminium silicate , prepared when
the rock is mined, executed , the impurities was
washed with the flow of water and then powdered.
27. Uses
Kaolin is used as an antidiarrhoeal and
increase the bulk of faeces.
It has been also used in the treatment of
chronic ulcerative colitis.
30. Physical Properties
• It is a very fine odourless , cream colored clay and
is formed from volcanic ash and water.
• It has absorptive properties.
• It has excellent plasticity and lubricity properties.
• It has binding properties and dry sealing
properties.
• It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic
solvents.
31. Uses
It is used as Cathartics due to its amazing absorption
properties.
It can remove toxin materials and chemicals
It helps to detoxify the digestive system
It is helpful in removing the internal parasites from
digestive system.
Its supports in boosting immune system.
It can be used as an antioxidant.
As a Pharmaceutical aid it is also used as a binder and
suspending agents.
