
Two mixing techniques are frequently used in making ointments:
- 1. Fusion, in which ingredients are melted together and stirred to ensure homogeneity.
- 2. Trituration, in which finely subdivided insoluble medicaments are evenly distributed by grinding with a small amount of the base or one of its ingredients followed by dilution with gradually increasing amounts of the base.
What are the methods of making ointments?
Fusion method for ointments, Preparation of pastes, Trituration, Levigation, Cold method, Dispersion method, Fusion method of gel preparation. All components of the base are uniform, meaning there are no lumps of high melting point constituents, liquids do not separate, and insoluble powders are evenly dispersed throughout.
How do you make hydrocarbon ointment?
Type of preparation: Hydrocarbon ointment base. Type of preparation: Absorption base. Type of preparation: Water-miscible ointment base. Type of preparation: Water-soluble ointment base. Method: Macrogol 4000 is melted and previously warmed liquid macrogol 300 is added. Stirred until cool.
How to make absorption ointment?
Type of preparation: Absorption ointment base. Hard paraffin and Cetostearyl alcohol on water-bath. Wool fat and white soft paraffin are mixed and stirred until all the ingredients are melted. If required decanted or strained and stirred until cold and packed in a suitable container. Type of preparation: Hydrocarbon ointment base.
How can I make my own herbal ointments?
Make your own herbal ointments today! First, set up a double boiler—a pot of water, with a bowl over the pot. Put the un-petroleum jelly in the bowl, then melt it and add the herbs. Simmer the mixture on very low heat for a half hour, then strain the mixture. Pour it into a container. The mixture will thicken into an ointment as it cools.

How is an ointment made?
In the pharmaceutical industry, ointments are manufactured by melting oil and aqueous phases in two separate jacketed vessels with agitators for proper mixing. The two phases are transferred to the main ointment vessel through valves and pipes. The additional stirrers in the main vessel provide agitation (1).
How simple ointment is prepared?
Simple ointment B.P. was prepared using hard paraffin, cetostearyl alcohol, white soft paraffin, and wool fat. The master formula used for the preparation of ointment was taken from British Pharmacopoeia [11].
What are different methods of preparation of ointment in pharmaceutics?
Fusion method for ointments, Preparation of pastes, Trituration, Levigation, Cold method, Dispersion method, Fusion method of gel preparation.
What is the formulation of ointment?
Typical ointment bases comprise petrolatum and mineral oil, or petrolatum and waxy/fatty alcohol combinations, the ratio and grades of these components being selected to give the desired finished product viscosity/spreadability.
What are the raw materials of ointment?
Basic Raw Materials Used in The Development of Various Ointments. Hydrocarbon bases: liquid paraffin (mineral oil), microcrystalline wax, hard paraffin, and soft paraffin. Absorption bases (anhydrous and water in oil type): beeswax and wool fat.
What are ointments?
Ointments are preparations for external use, intended for application to the skin. Typically, they have an oily or greasy consistency and can appear “stiff” as they are applied to the skin. Ointments contain drug that may act on the skin or be…
How do you make pharmaceutical ointment?
The ProcessPreparation of the oil phase. Flake/powder ingredients, sometimes dry blended in advance, are dispersed into mineral oil or silicone oil. ... Hydration of aqueous phase ingredients. ... Forming the Emulsion. ... Dispersion of the Active Ingredient.
Which ointment is prepared by chemical reaction?
OINTMENT PREPARATION BY CHEMICAL REACTION Chemical reactions were involved in the preparation of several famous ointments of the past, e.g. Strong Mercuric Nitrate Ointment, both of the 1959 B.P.C. Iodine is only slightly soluble in most fats and oils but readily soluble.
What is ointment write down the methods of preparation of ointment?
An oil-based topical formulation with a semi-solid texture and a greasy appearance that can be applied to the skin is called an ointment. As per the ointment meaning, the therapeutic substances are dispersed in the medium. The medium generally has 80% oil and 20% water.
What are the types of ointment?
There are three major types of ointment bases: oleaginous (greasy) bases, which are water repellent; water-absorbing bases, which are greasy but allow absorption of water, and water-miscible bases (vanishing creams or water-soluble bases).
What is difference between ointment and cream?
What's the difference between cream and ointment? Both creams and ointments can have medicinal or cosmetic uses. The primary difference between the two lies in the ratio between oil and water. While a cream has equal parts oil and water, ointments contain about 80 percent oil.
What is ointment and give example?
Ointments used for medical purposes contain medications that can either act on the skin or be absorbed through the skin for systemic action. Common bases for ointments include: Petroleum jelly. Anhydrous lanolin. Waxes.
What is a simple ointment?
Simple ointment which is composed of cetostearyl alcohol, wool fat, white paraffin, and hard paraffin was prepared according to the standard guide line (Gaur et al., 2009) . Finally, ointments containing 5 and 10% (w/w) methanol extract of C. macrostachyus leaves were made using the simple ointment as a vehicle. ...
What is simple ointment for?
To lubricate and protect the eye in conditions such as exposure keratitis, decreased corneal sensitivity, recurrent corneal erosions, keratitis sicca, ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic surgery, sticky eyes and to soften crusts formed due to inflammation of the eye lids. Adults, the elderly and children.
What is ointment write down the methods of preparation of ointment?
An oil-based topical formulation with a semi-solid texture and a greasy appearance that can be applied to the skin is called an ointment. As per the ointment meaning, the therapeutic substances are dispersed in the medium. The medium generally has 80% oil and 20% water.
Which ointment is prepared by chemical reaction?
OINTMENT PREPARATION BY CHEMICAL REACTION Chemical reactions were involved in the preparation of several famous ointments of the past, e.g. Strong Mercuric Nitrate Ointment, both of the 1959 B.P.C. Iodine is only slightly soluble in most fats and oils but readily soluble.
How many types of ointment base are there?
Classify an ointment base formulation as 1 of 5 types.
How much ointment is lost in compounding?
Between 2 and 4 grams of an ointment may be lost in the compounding process. The ointment is lost as it adheres to beakers, ointment tiles, or ointment pads. To compensate for this loss, make an excess of the ointment. Some general rules might be to add 10% or 3 grams excess to the prescribed amount.
What is the most commonly compounded product?
Dermatological formulations are among the most frequently compounded products because of their wide range of potential uses. These include solutions (i.e., collodions, liniments, aqueous and oleaginous solutions), suspensions and gels, emulsions, lotions, and creams. Lotions can be either suspensions or emulsions but are fluid liquids that are typically used for their lubricating effect. Creams are emulsions and are typically opaque, thick liquids or soft solids used for their emollient properties. Creams also have the added feature that they tend to “vanish” or disappear with rubbing. Distinctions between lotions and creams are open to individual interpretation.
What are the two dermatological formulations?
This chapter will deal with two other dermatological formulations, ointments and pastes. Pastes have more solid material in them than ointments. These two formulations are also termed “semisolids” because they appear to be solid but still have fluid properties.
What are dermatological formulations that are not commonly compounded?
Other dermatological formulations that are not commonly compounded include aerosols, dusting powders, and devices such as transdermal patches, tapes, and gauzes. These formulations are typically manufactured.
What is the stratum corneum?
It is the stratum corneum that is the barrier to drug penetration through the skin. The stratum corneum is approximately 10 microns thick. It can swell to approximately three times its original thickness and absorb about five times its weight in water. When the stratum corneum hydrates, it becomes more permeable. Therefore, occlusive dressings are often used to hydrate the stratum corneum and increase the penetration of certain drugs. Dermatoses such as eczema and psoriasis can also hydrate the stratum corneum and increase the absorption of some drugs.
How do epidermal cells replenish?
In normal skin, the epidermal cells are continually replenished by the formation of initially viable cells from the basal germinative layer. As the new cells develop, they displace the outer epidermal cells. The outer layer is called the stratum corneum and these cells are sloughed off to the environment. As the cells migrate to become the stratum corneum, they become flattened, lose their nuclei, and the organized cell contents becomes replaced with keratin fibrils. The turnover time from germination to sloughing is about 21 days.
What is an ointment?
Ointments are semi-solid preparations for application to the skin or mucous membranes. Their basis is almost always anhydrous and generally contains one or more medicaments. They usually contain a medicament dissolved, suspended or emulsified in the base. The main rule of the local therapy is that if the skin is dry, use an ointment.
What is fusion ointment?
Ointments prepared by Fusion method. This involves melting together the bases over a water bath before incorporating any other in gredients. The ointment base may include a mixture of waxes, fats and oils, of which some are solid at room temperature and others are liquid:
Why add wax to ointment?
The addition of a wax to an ointment makes the preparation smoother and lighter in consistency. Altering the proportions of oil, fat and wax in the ointment may vary the consistency. For example, extra wax will make the ointment stiffer; extra oil will make the ointment less viscous.
When to add soluble solids to fatty bases?
Soluble solids should be added to the molten fatty bases at the lowest possible temperature and the mixture stirred until cold. Alternatively, if using a pre-prepared base, soluble solids may be incorporated using the method employed for insoluble solids. Insoluble solids.
What is the best local therapy for dry skin?
E.g.: • Antibiotics –bacitracin, neomycin, mupirocin, etc. • Antifungal agents –compound benzoic acid o intment.
What ingredients should be melted before applying creme?
All solid ingredients included in cremes or ointments, such as beeswax, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, stearic acid, paraffin, etc. should be melted before application to prevent burning.
How is a uniform gel formed?
In this method, waxy materials are melted and drugs are added. A uniform gel was formed by stirring slowly until it was dissolved.
How is melting done?
Melting the components is done in order of decreasing melting points, which means that the substances with the highest melting points should be melted first, the substances with the next melting points, and so on. When the medicament is added to the ingredients in a liquid form, a thorough stirring is carried out until the mixture cools down and becomes homogenous.
How long to stir gelling agent in water?
Stirring the gelling agent in water at 1200 rpm for 30 minutes dispersed the gelling agent. The nonaqueous solvent was used to dissolve the drug. The preservative was also added. Continuous stirring was performed while adding this solution to the gel above.
What is the method of ensuring homogeneity in which the ingredients are melted together?
Fusion is one of the methods for ensuring homogeneity, in which the ingredients are melted together.
How to make pastes?
To make pastes, you must grind them and fuse them, just like ointments. Typically, liquid or semisolid bases are triturated. For bases that are semisolid or solid, the Fusion method must be used.
What is the sieve number for starch?
The starch powder and zinc oxide are filtered through sieve no. 180.
How are ointments prepared?
Ointments are prepared by two general methods depending primarily on the nature of the ingredients. Incorporation. Fusion. 1. Incorporation of preparation of ointments: The components are mixed until a uniform preparation is attained. On a small scale, as in extemporaneous compounding, the pharmacist may mix the components using a mortar ...
What is the best way to prepare ointment?
The ointment is prepared by thoroughly rubbing and working the components together on the hard surface until the product is smooth and uniform.
What is an ointment mill?
Ointment or roller mills can be used to force coarsely formed ointments through stainless steel or ceramic rollers to produce ointments uniform in composition and smooth in texture. Small ointment mills also find use in product development laboratories and in small-batch manufacture or compounding. 2. Fusion:
What is the spatula used for in preparing an ointment?
When preparing an ointment by spatulation, the pharmacist works the ointment with a stainless steel spatula having a long, broad blade and periodically removes the accumulation of ointment on the large spatula with a smaller one. If the components of an ointment react with metal (as does iodine), hard rubber spatulas may be used.
How is a pill tile dissolved?
The material is dissolved in a solvent and spread out on the pill tile. The solvent is allowed to evaporate, leaving a thin film of the material onto which the other ingredient or ingredients are spread. The material is then worked into the ingredients by trituration with a spatula. Incorporation of Liquids.
What is a semisolid preparation?
A semisolid preparation usually containing medicinal substances and intended for external application to the skin or mucous membranes .#N#o Semi-solid preparations of hydrocarbons (petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin, synthetic hydrocarbons)#N#o Strong emollient effect makes it useful in dry skin conditions#N#o Occlusive effect enhances penetration of active drug and improves efficacy especially in thickened, lichenified skin.#N#o Provides a protective film on the skin (useful to irritant dermatitis) greasy, sticky, retains sweat (therefore, not suitable in wet weepy dermatitis, hairy areas, skin prone to folliculate, or hot weather conditions)#N#o Contains no water and does not require a preservative.
When are components not melted added to a congealing mixture?
Naturally, heat-labile substances and any volatile components are added last, when the temperature of the mixture is low enough not to cause decomposition or volatilization of the components.
Hydrocarbon bases
These bases are immiscible with water and are not absorbed by the skin. They usually consist of soft paraffin or mixtures of soft paraffin with hard paraffin or liquid paraffin. The paraffins form a greasy waterproof film on the skin.
Absorption bases
Absorption bases are good emollients and are less occlusive and easier to apply than hydrocarbon bases. Absorption bases can be divided into non-emulsified bases and water-in-oil emulsions:
Hydrophilic bases
These have been developed from polyethylene glycols (macrogols). They are non-occlusive, mix readily with skin secretions and are easily removed by washing (e.g. Macrogol Ointment BP). Macrogol bases are commonly used with local anaesthetics such as Lidocaine BP
Fusion
This involves melting together the bases over a water bath before incorporating any other ingredients. The ointment base may include a mixture of waxes, fats and oils, of which some are solid at room temperature and others are liquid:
Incorporating powders into an ointment base
Soluble solids Soluble solids should be added to the molten fatty bases at the lowest possible temperature and the mixture stirred until cold.
Incorporating liquids into an ointment base
Non-volatile, miscible liquids Non-volatile, miscible liquids may be mixed with the molten fat in the evaporating basin. Alternatively, if a pre-prepared base is used, then incorporate as for volatile or immiscible liquids. Volatile or immiscible liquids Volatile or immiscible liquids (e.g.
What is an ointment used for?
Ointments are used as vehicles for topical application of the actives and basically function as skin protective and emollient.
Why is ointment preferred to solutions?
Ointment is preferred to solutions because ointments offer lubrication to the corneal epithelium.
What is the best ointment for SM?
Ointments containing calmodulin antagonists were found to be effective in preventing skin injuries induced by SM. Topically applied pluronic base ointments containing lidocaine or pentamide gave beneficial effects when applied immediately after SM on pig skin (Kadar et al., 2000 ). Calmodulin antagonists and anesthetics on the skin lesions induced by SM were investigated in hairless mice and it was observed that calmodulin antagonists and anesthetics in water soluble bases may be useful for the treatment of SM-induced skin lesions. The water soluble ointment bases showed some beneficial effects, whereas oily bases made the skin lesions worse. Trifluoperazine (0.5–1%) and thioridazine (2%), potent calmodulin antagonists, in Pluronic F-127 base considerably prevented the development of SM-induced skin lesions. A similar effect was achieved with pentamidine (10%). Anesthetics, such as lidocaine and pentobarbital, showed some protection, although at concentrations above 5% ( Kim et al., 1996a ). Since O -phenanthroline inhibited the ulcerative effect of topically applied meclorethamine in guinea pigs and also protected against meclorethamine-induced toxicity in rat liver slice cultures, it could also be a useful antidote to SM ( Wormser and Nyska, 1991 ).
Why are ointments used in medicine?
Ointments, the classic pharmaceutical form, have been used as an option to decrease drug drainage by the tear flow and increase the corneal residence time. Ointments have the advantage of allowing the incorporation of drugs with poor water solubility, reducing nasolacrimal drainage and minimization of tear dilution.
Can calmodulin be used for skin lesions?
Calmodulin antagonists and anesthetics on the skin lesions induced by SM were investigated in hairless mice and it was observed that calmodulin antagonists and anesthetics in water soluble bases may be useful for the treatment of SM-induced skin lesions.
Is steroids contraindicated for corneal abrasions?
The use of steroids and aminoglycosides is contraindicated for corneal abrasions.
Is an ointment a compound or simple base?
Ointments could be simple bases (the ointment forms one continuous phase), or compound bases (a two-phase system, e.g., an emulsion). The drug delivery with ointment is associated with some disadvantages such as relatively poor patient compliance, which may be the result of occasional irritation and blurring of vision (Patel et al., 2010 ).
How to make a jelly ointment?
First, set up a double boiler—a pot of water, with a bowl over the pot. Put the un-petroleum jelly in the bowl, then melt it and add the herbs. Simmer the mixture on very low heat for a half hour, then strain the mixture. Pour it into a container. The mixture will thicken into an ointment as it cools.
What is the best way to apply herbs to your skin?
Ointments are a great way to apply herbs for skin issues such as rashes or eczema, as well as a way to treat sore muscles or joints.
Chapter: Pharmaceutical Drugs and Dosage: Semisolid dosage forms
Ointments are semisolid preparations that incorporate a lipid or hydrophobic excipient and are intended for external application to the skin or other muco-sal membranes.
Types of ointment bases
An ointment base forms the body of any ointment. Ointment bases are classified into four general groups: (1) hydrocarbon bases, (2) absorption bases, (3) emulsion or water-removable bases, and (4) water-soluble bases (Table 23.1).
Methods of incorporation of drugs into ointment bases
In addition to the active drug, ingredients in ointment preparations can include oleaginous components, aqueous components, emulsifying agents, stiffeners, penetration enhancers, preservatives, and antioxidants. Oleaginous ointments may be prepared by levigation and fusion.

General Method For Incorporating Powders Into An Ointment Base
General Method For Incorporating Liquids Into An Ointment Base
- Non-volatile, miscible liquids Non-volatile, miscible liquids may be mixed with the molten fat in the evaporating basin. Alternatively, if a pre-prepared base is used, then incorporate as for volatile or immiscible liquids. Volatile or immiscible liquids Volatile or immiscible liquids (e.g. coal tar solutions) should be triturated with the ointment...
A Well-Made Ointment Is
- (a) Uniform throughout i.e. it contains no lumps of separated high melting point ingredients of the base, there is no tendency for liquid constituents to separate and insoluble powders are evenly dispersed. (b) Free from grittiness, i.e. insoluble powders are finely subdivided and large lumps of particles are absent. Methods of preparation must satisfy this criteria. Two mixing techniques ar…