Dr.

N Damodharan
Professor and Head
Department of Pharmaceutics
SRM College of Pharmacy

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` Definition:
- Medicines prepared according to the formulae of
Galen.

- A medicinal preparation composed mainly of herbal

or vegetable matter.

- It is prepared by extraction of crude vegetable drugs

(active principles) with suitable solvent(s).

- The term is now used to denote standard

preparations containing one or more active
constituents of a plant and made by a process that
leaves the inert and other undesirable constituents of
the plant un-dissolved.

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` Galen is a Greek anatomist
whose theories formed
the basis of European
medicine until the
Renaissance
(between 4th and 17th )
- Pharmaceutical preparations are
divided into:
1. Galenical preparation
2. Non-Galenical preparations

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` Nomenclature:
Galenicals: Owing to Galen who discovered it.

Menstrum: Solvent used for extraction (ex. water,

alcohol, ether)

Marc: The inert fibrous and other insoluble

materials remaining after extraction

` Types: Infusions- Decoctions- Fluid extracts-

Semisolid extracts – Dry extracts- Tinctures-
Medical oils…..

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` General method of Preparation:
1- Comminution (reducing substances to small
size).
2- Penetration of the crude drug by the menstrum.
3- Dissolution of the active principles by the
menstrum.
4- Diffusion of the dissolved active principles
through the cell wall to the surrounding
menstrum.
5- Separation of the dissolved active principles from
the marc by straining, filtration or expression.

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 Drug
` Crude drugs of light structure without dense
tissues and containing water-soluble
constituents.
` The drug may be freshly broken, thinly sliced, cut
small, or coarsely powdered in order to facilitate
the solvent penetration.
Menstrum
` Always water (cold or boiling).
Time
` Determined according to the amount of drug
constituents to be extracted and the ease or
difficulty with which the water penetrate the drug.
Examples
` Teas- Senna infusion- Infusion of senega
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 Preparation
1.1- Fresh (Dilute) Infusion
` The simplest of all methods of extraction
` A definite weight of the crude drug in a certain state of
subdivision (cut small, powdered…) is prepared
` The calculated amount of hot or boiling menstrum (usually
water) is added to the crude drug
` Soak for a definite time
` During the period of infusion, the heat should be retained in
the container and the content should be stirred
` After the time of infusion, the liquid is poured off or strained
` Do not press or squeeze the marc otherwise colloidal cell
contents may be forced out giving a cloudy infusion
` Such fresh infusion should be used within 12 hours

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 1.2- Concentrated (stock) infusion
Š To avoid rapid decomposition to which the fresh (dilute)
infusions are subjected.

Š These preparations are not made by the concentration of

the dilute infusion by evaporation, since thermal
treatment will result in loss of the volatile principles.

Š Concentrated infusions prepared with alcoholic menstrum

or contain alcohol as a preservative.

Š Concentrated infusion are not intended to be dispensed

in the concentrated state, but upon use, are diluted with
at least seven times their volume of water

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Many medicines which were prescribed required
infusions of ingredients such as bitter orange,
cloves or senna.

Originally the ingredients were left soaking in hot

water and then drained. Later, it was discovered
that it was more effective if the ingredients were
suspended near the surface of the water, as that
way more of the drugs were extracted, this
discovery led to the development of the infusion
pot.

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 Apparatus
` Consist of covered jar ( made
of earthenware, stainless-
steel, ceramic, glass,
porcelain…) to which is fitted
at certain height a perforated
tray upon which the crude
drug may be allowed to rest
in water being poured over it.

` The plant may be enclosed

loosely in a small muslin bag
and suspended in the jar at a
height where it will be just
covered by the liquid.

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` The perforated tray or muslin bag confers two
advantages:
A- Placing the drug near the top of the liquid
rather than at its bottom gives complete extraction
because when the menstrum surrounding the drug
becomes saturated, it will sinks to the bottom due
to its increased density and another amount of
fresh menstrum displace it leading to circulatory
diffusion.

B- At the end of infusion time, the drug can be

lifted out, leaving clear liquid which can be strained
quickly.

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Concentrated infusion of Quassia (
Rx.
Quassia, cut small………………..80 gm
Alcohol (90%)…………………….250 ml
Distilled water, cold Q.S to……...1000 ml

Prepared by triple maceration.

1- Macerate Quassia with 650 ml of cold water for one hour, mix
occasionally, strain and reserve the clear liquid.

2- Repeat maceration process twice, using 500 ml of cold water

for each maceration.

3- Combine second and third maceration and evaporate to 100

ml.

4- Mix liquid 3 with liquid 1, add alcohol and adjust the volume
to 1000 ml with cold distilled water

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Dilute compound infusion of Gentian
Rx.
Gentian, thinly sliced …………………….12.5
gm
Dried bitter orange peel, cut small……12.5
gm
Dried Lemon peel, cut small…………….12.5
gm
boiling water Q.S to……………………….1000
gm

Preparation: Macerate the solid drugs with 1000

gm of boiling water, then strain.

Dose: 15 to 30 ml
Use: Gentian is a bitter and is used to stimulate
gastric secretion, strengthen the digestive
system and improve the appetite.
It should be given from half to one hour before
meals, preferably with juice.
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 General Notes
` The drug is usually coarsely ground. Very fine
powders should be avoided due to difficulty of
separation from the infusion.

` Where no specific directions are given, the

following general formula and procedure should
be used : 50 gm Drug in 1000 ml boiling
distilled water (moisten 50 gm drug with 50 ml
of cold water and allow to stand for 15 minutes.
Then, add boiling water to make 1000 ml
infusion).

` Infusions of readily soluble active principles are

prepared by maceration in water cold.
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` Hot water extract the desired constituents
more quickly than cold but has the
disadvantages of:
1- extracting inert materials that may
precipitate upon cooling.
2- causing volatilization or destruction of
certain principles.
3- coagulation of albuminous matters within
the drug cell and thereby inhibit the
extraction.

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Definition:

- Solutions of the water soluble constituents of

plant drugs prepared by boiling the drug with
water.

` For extraction of drugs with water soluble and

non- volatile constituents, and drugs of hard and
woody nature.

` Should be freshly prepared.

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Preparation:
` Previously sliced drug barks or wood (5 parts) is boiled
with water (100 or 120 parts) in a vessel of enameled
iron or earthenware for a definite length of time (15
min.) counting from when the liquid starts to boil with
occasional stirring.

` To obtain highly concentrated decoction, boiling is

continued until the liquid reduced to a certain volume.

` Allow to cool to about 40ºC, press the marc and mix the
resulting liquid to the decoction.

` At the end of decoction time, decoction is strained

through fine muslin or flannel according to the nature
of marc. Then, sufficient water is passed through the
strainer to produce a definite volume.
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` Example: Cinchona bark
or wood
(contains quinine)
Uses: treatment of fever,
malaria and as an appetite
Stimulant.
Also used in anemia,
indigestion,
gastrointestinal disorders,
general fatigue.

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Item Infusion Decoction

1- Plant Soft structure (ex. Senna Hard woody structure

leaves) (ex. Cinchona bark)
2- Menstrum Boiling or cold water Boiling water

3- Procedure Infusing the drug with cold Boiling the drug with
or hot water water
4- Time Calculated as soon as water Calculated as soon as
is added to drug the water begins to boil
5- Adjustment No adjustment Adjustment is necessary
of final volume
6- Apparatus Infusion earthenware pot Any covered apparatus

7- Storage Used fresh within 12 hours Used fresh and when

stored in refrigerator
used within few days
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