Digestants and carminatives: its complete descrtiption, uses and side effects with note on assessment

1. Dr. KRVS Chaitanya
DIGESTANTS
&
CARMINATIVES
Dr. Koppala RVS Chaitanya
Department of Pharmacology

2. Dr. KRVS Chaitanya
DIGESTANTS
Digestant are a group of drugs used to promote the process of digestion in the gastrointestinal
tract. Carminatives are specifically antispasmodic to the bowel, easing cramping, griping, and
the discomfort caused by flatulence. USES; Flatulent dyspepsia to prevent regurgitation of
milk in infants. Promote digestion of food. Relieves dyspeptic symptoms, commonly given in
combination of proteolytic, amylolytic and lipolytic enzymes
Pepsin:
 Gastric achylia due to atrophic gastritis, gastric carcinoma and Pernicious anaemia.
Papain:
 Papain is an enzyme found in the white fluid (latex) that occurs in raw papaya fruit.
 It is a protease, meaning it breaks down proteins.
 Papain contains substances that might help fight infection and heal wounds.
 Proteolytic enzyme with combination of raw papaya
 also known as papaya proteinase I, is a cysteine protease (EC 3.4. 22.2) enzyme that
is found in species of papaya, Carica papaya and Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis
Pancreatin:
 Pancreatic enzyme from pig and hog.
 With nausea, vomiting and hyperuricaemia
 Commonly given in enteric coated tables
 Combination of amylase + trypsin + lipase
 Used in chronic pancreatitis, endocrine pancreatic deficiency, Fat and nitrogen
contents of stools, Diarrhoea and steatorrhoea prevented by Pancreatin
Diastase & taka diastase:
 Extracted from asperigillus oryzea.
 Commonly proteolytic enzyme
 Used in pancreatic insufficiency
Methyl Polysilicone:
 Also a carminative
 Dimethyl Polysilicone, simethicone and dimethicone are all silicone polymer with
amphiphilic liquid components.
 Decrease surface tension, form and collapse froth, which acts as antifoaming agent.
 Not absorbed in G.I.T
 It’s pharmacologically inert
 Normally added to antacid, digestant and antireflex preparation.
 Gastric compliant, claimed to coat and protect ulcer surface.
 Used in prevention of GERD.

3. Dr. KRVS Chaitanya
CARMINATIVES
These are drugs which promote the expulsion of gases from the g.i.t. and give a feeling of
warmth and comfort the epigastrium.
Commonly used drugs are:
 Sodium bicarbonate 0.6--1.5 g
 Oil Peppermint 0.06--0.1 ml
 Tincture Cardamom Co. 1-2 ml
 Oil of dill 0.06--0.2 ml
 Tincture ginger 0.6--1 ml
Sodium bicarbonate reacts with gastric HCl, which rapidly distends stomach, relaxes The
others are condiments and spices, contain volatile oils, which by their mild irritant action and
flavour and increase g.i.t. motility. They give a feeling of warmth and comfort in the
abdomen.