Lab # 13

Preparation of Simple ointment and

Sulphur ointment

1
Ointments

 Ointments are semisolid preparations intended for external application to

the skin or mucous membranes, with or without rubbing, for
therapeutic or protective purpose.
Types of ointments
Epidermic ointments
 These ointments are intended to produce their action on the surface of
the skin and produce local effect, they are not absorbed.
Endodermic ointments
 These ointments are intended to release the medicaments that
penetrate into the skin. They are partially absorbed.
Diadermic ointments
 These ointments are intended to release the medicaments that pass
through the skin and produce systemic effects.
Ointment bases

Ointment bases are of 4 types:

1. Oleaginous/Hydrocarbon bases

2. Absorption bases

3. Water removable bases

4. Water soluble bases

1. Oleaginous/Hydrocarbon bases

Characteristics:
1. Emollient effect
2. Protect against the escape of moisture
3. Effective as occlusive dressings
4. Remain on the skin for long period without drying out
5. Difficult to wash
6. Incorporation of aqueous solutions is difficult
1. Oleaginous/Hydrocarbon bases

Examples:
1. Petrolatum (Yellow petrolatum/ Petroleum jelly)
2. White petrolatum (White Petroleum jelly)
3. Yellow ointment
4. White ointment
1. Petrolatum (Yellow petrolatum/ Petroleum jelly)
 Purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.
 Color varies from yellow to light amber.
2. White petrolatum (White Petroleum jelly)
 Purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum
that has been decolorized.
 Because of its lighter color, it is considered more esthetically pleasing.
3. Yellow ointment
 This ointment has the following formula for 100 g:

Yellow wax (beeswax) 5g

Yellow petrolatum 95 g

 Yellow wax is the purified wax obtained from the honeycomb.

 Yellow beeswax is also called cera flava.
 Yellow ointment has greater viscosity than plain petrolatum.
4. White ointment
 This ointment has the following formula for 100 g:

White wax (beeswax) 5g

White petrolatum 95 g

 White beeswax is also called cera alba.

2. Absorption bases

Characteristics:
1. Emollient effect
2. Less occlusive than oleaginous bases
3. Difficult to wash
4. Useful to incorporate water-soluble drugs
2. Absorption bases

Examples: Absorption bases are of two types:

1. That permit the incorporation of aqueous solutions, resulting in the
formation of w/o emulsions. Example:
Hydrophilic Petrolatum USP

2. Bases that are already w/o emulsions (emulsion bases) and permit
the incorporation of small additional quantities of aqueous solutions.
Example:
Lanolin (wool fat): obtained from the wool of sheep (Ovis aries).
3. Water-Removable Bases

Characteristics:
1. They are o/w emulsions (creams)
2. Water-washable
3. Absorb serous discharge
4. Incorporate water and aqueous solutions
Examples:
Hydrophilic Ointment, USP
4. Water-Soluble Bases

Characteristics:
1. No oleaginous component
2. Completely water-washable
3. Greaseless
4. Useful for incorporation of solid substances
4. Water-Soluble Bases

Examples:
 Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Ointment
PEG 3350 5g
PEG 400 95 g

 PEGs with molecular weight below 600 are clear liquids.

 PEGs with molecular weight above 1,000 are wax-like solids.
 PEGs with molecular weight in between are semisolids.
Preparation of Ointments

Ointments are prepared by two general methods:

 Incorporation method
 Incorporation of solids
 Incorporation of liquids

 Fusion method
Incorporation of solids

 Powdered components are reduced to fine powders so the final

product will not be gritty. This may be done by levigation.
 For incorporating a gummy material, such as camphor, pulverization
by intervention can be used.
 After size reduction, a small portion of the powder is mixed with a
portion of the base until uniform.
 Geometric dilution is continued until all portions of the powder and
base are combined and thoroughly and uniformly blended.
Incorporation of liquids

 Liquid substances or solutions of drugs, are added to an ointment

depending on ointment base's capacity to accept the volume required.
 Oleaginous ointment incorporates very small amounts of an aqueous
solution, whereas hydrophilic ointment bases readily accept aqueous
solutions.
 To add an aqueous preparation to a hydrophobic base, the solution
first may be incorporated into a minimum amount of a hydrophilic
base and then that mixture added to the hydrophobic base.
Fusion method

 The components of an ointment are combined by being melted

together and cooled with constant stirring until congealed.
 Components not melted are added to the congealing mixture as it is
being cooled and stirred.
 Heat-labile substances and any volatile components are added at the
end.
 Components such as beeswax, paraffin, stearyl alcohol, and high
molecular weight PEGs, which do not lend themselves well to
mixture by incorporation, are prepared by fusion.
Simple ointment BP

Ingredients Quantity ( 10 g)
Wool fat 0.5 g
Hard paraffin 0.5 g
Ceto-stearyl alcohol 0.5 g
White soft paraffin 8.5 g
Procedure (Simple ointment)

1. Weigh the required quantity of all ingredients.

2. Melt hard paraffin, wool fat, ceto-stearyl alcohol and white soft
paraffin in a beaker on water bath.

3. Stir gently to aid melting and to mix ingredients.

4. When a homogenous mixture is formed remove it from heat and stir

until it gets congealed.

5. Dispense it in a proper container and label it.

Uses of Simple Ointment

 It is used as an emollient.

 It is used as a vehicle for the preparation of other medicated ointments.

Sulphur ointment BP

Ingredients Quantity ( 10 g)
Sulphur 1g
Simple ointment 9g
Procedure (Sulphur ointment)

1. Weigh the required quantity of sulphur.

2. Levigate sulphur with equal quantity of simple ointment on an

ointment slab

3. After the powder is levigated incorporate it into the remainder of the

base by geometric dilution.

4. Dispense it in a proper container and label it.

Uses of Sulphur Ointment

 It is used for the treatment of acne, scabies and seborrheic dermatitis.

 Scabies is an infestation of skin caused by a tiny burrowing mite called

Sarcoptes scabiei. Intense itching occurs in the area where the mite burrows.

 Seborrheic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disease presenting in

areas rich in sebaceous glands, particularly the scalp, face, and body folds.
Role of ingredients

 Wool fat/ lanolin is used to prevent dry skin.

 Hard paraffin is used as a stiffening agent.

 Ceto-stearyl alcohol is used as emollient.

 White soft paraffin is used as base and emollient.

 Sulphur is used as scabicide, antibacterial and antifungal agent for the treatment
of various skin conditions.
Label
Composition: (10 g) Storage:
Sulphur 10 % w/w. Store in a cool and dry place.
Keep the container tightly
Indications: closed.
For the treatment of scabies,
acne and seborrheic
dermatitis. Directions:

Precautions:
Sulphur Ointment Apply ointment to cover the
affected areas and rub in
For external use only. gently.
Keep out of the reach of (BP)
children.
Mfg. Lic. No.
Manufactured by: Reg. No.
Batch No. :
Mfg. Date:
Exp. Date:
MRP. Rs.