Cathartics

CATHARTICS
Dr.N.Saritha Devi
Associate.Professor
SPLP
DEFINITION
• Cathartics are drugs used to relieve

constipation or bring out defecation.
The term laxative is used for mild
cathartic whereas purgatives is used for
strong cathartics.
In normal habits, peristalsis lead to defecation. The peristaltic waves stimulate
bowel and relieve its contents. By ignoring the urge to defecate or for
psychological reasons leads to constipation.
Constipation can also be caused by many factors like weakness of intestine,
intestinal injury and use of certain drugs and diet etc. In constipation, faecal
matter becomes dry and hard.
Use of laxative or purgative (lubricants) gives relief in constipation by
elimination of bowel contents
Classification
The cathartics/laxatives can be considered under the following class-

Mild purgatives or laxatives
Strong purgatives
• Mild purgatives or laxatives are those which promote defecation causing
minimum adverse effects.
• Bulk producing drugs- which promote evacuation by increasing the stools bulk
volume and water contents e.g isapgol, agar-agar, methylcellulose, bran,
psyllium seed, sodium carboxy methylcellulose
• Stool softners-which penetrate, lubricate and soften the stool e.g liquid paraffin
• Strong purgatives- cause complete evacuation of the bowel and constipation
usually follows for which a mild purgative is needed. These purgatives should not be
used for constipation. They may be given in worm infection along with drugs killing
worms and also to remove solid materials from intestines prior to x-ray examinations.
• Irritant or stimulant purgatives- senna, aloe, cascara, rhubarb extract, castor
oil, podophyllin
• Saline cathartics (osmotic laxative) - sodium phosphate, potassium sodium tartarate,
magnesium hydroxide, magnesium sulphate, sodium sulphate etc.
Cathartics according to mechanism
• Stimulant- In this, the drugs or chemicals act by local
irritation on intestinal tract and bring stimulation of
peristalsis activity. Since they act directly act on intestine
and stimulate peristalsis, they are called as stimulants. E.g
drugs like senna, rhubarb, cascara, podophyllum, castor
oil, aloe
• Bulk purgatives- These are the agents which increase
bulk of intestinal contents. These are cellulose which
swell when wet and due to increased bulk stimulate
peristalsis.
E.g methylcellulose, sodium CMC, ispgol
• Lubricants- Substances like liquid paraffin, glycerine,
mineral oils etc. act as lubricants and bring smooth
clearance of the faecal material.
• Saline cathartics- Fourth category are known as saline
cathartics. It acts by increasing osmotic load of intestine
by absorbing large quantity of water and thus stimulate
peristalsis. The saline cathartics are water soluble
mainly inorganic chemicals and they are taken with
plenty of water.
Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4. 7H 2O)
MOL WT- 246.5
It is having not less than 99% and not more than 100% of magnesium sulphate.
Preparations-
 It is obtained by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on magnesium carbonate

or magnesium oxide.
MgCO3 + H2SO4 MgSO4 + H2O +CO2
The solution is filtered and the filtrate is evaporated to crystallisation.
 It is manufactured by the action of sulphuric acid on magnesite or
dolomite. MgCO3.CaCO3 + 2H2SO4 MgSO4 + CaSO4 + 2CO2 + 2H2O
The liquid is filtered and the filtrate is evaporated to crystallisation.
 It is also prepared from magnesium hydroxide occurred in brine after extraction
of bromine. To this magnesium hydroxide salts, sulphur dioxide and air are
passed which forms magnesium sulphate.
2Mg (OH)2 + 2SO2 + O2 2MgSO4 + 2H2O
Properties-
It occurs as odourless crystals having a cool, saline bitter taste. It effloresces in warm dry air.
It is soluble in water and sparingly soluble in alcohol. When gently heated, it loses some of its water
of hydration and gets converted into the monohydrate which becomes anhydrous at 2000C.
Uses-
Magnesium sulphate is given orally in dilute solutions. About 5g gives rise to laxative effect. Due to
bitter and nauseating taste it is given in fruit juices.
The mechanism of action is that magnesium sulphate does not get absorbed from intestinal tract
and thus retains water. The hydrostatic pressor is able to promote peristalsis movement of bowel.
It is used in patients with impaired renal function.
Dose- 10-15g
Storage- It is kept in tightly closed container.

Sodium Orthophosphate (Na2HPO4. 12H2O)
MOL WT- 358.14
It is dodecahydrate of disodium hydrogen orthophosphate. It contains not less than 98.5% and not
more than 101.0% of Na2HPO4.
Preparation-
1. It is obtained by adding sodium carbonate to a hot solution of phosphoric acid.
H3PO4 + Na2CO3 Na2HPO4 + H2O + CO2
The solution is neutralised, concentrated and the crystals are separated out by centrifuging, washed
and dried.
2. It is also obtained from calcium phosphate which is treated with sulphuric acid, yields calcium
sulphate and monobasic calcium phosphate.
Ca3 (PO4)2 + 2H2SO4 Ca (H2PO4)2 + 2CaSO4
Now the filtrate is treated with sodium carbonate when dibasic calcium phosphate gets deposited
leaving sodium phosphate in solution.
Ca (H2PO4)2 + Na2CO3 CaHPO4 + Na2HPO4 + CO2 + H2O
The solution is filtered off. The crystals of sodium phosphate are obtained by concentrating the
solution and crystallisation.
Properties-
It occurs in the form of colourless transparent crystals, having a saline taste. It is odourless and
effloresces in air. It is soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol. On heating over 300 0C it is converted
into sodium pyrophosphate.
2 Na2HPO4 Na2P2O7 + H2O
Uses-
It is used as a saline laxative. It is a cathartic and buffering agent.
Storage-
It is stored in tightly closed containers.
Dose- 2-16g
Kaolin (Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O)
• It is a native hydrated aluminium silicate which is freed from
most of its impurities by dried.
• Preparation-
• It is prepared from natural clay by powdering and separating
particles by electrical sedimentation. It must be purified from
gritty particles and other impurities.
• Properties-
• It is light, white powder free from gritty particles. It is
odourless, tasteless and having greasy or soapy to the touch.
• Uses-
• It finds use in mixtures which are intended for dysentery,
diarrhoea and for symptomatic treatment of cholitis, cholera
etc.
• It is used in the treatment of food and alkaloid poisoning, as it
adsorbs toxins.
• It finds use in dusting powder, cosmetic preparations etc.
• Storage- It is stored in well-closed containers.
• Dose- 15-75g
Bentonite (Al2O3.4SiO2.H2O)
• It is a colloidal hydrated aluminium silicate which occurs naturally. It
is obtained from the naturally occurring sources. Bentonite is having
SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO and some sodium and potassium.
• Properties-
• It occurs as a very fine, pale or cream coloured powder. It is
odourless, free from grit and has slightly earthy taste. It is almost
insoluble in water but swells to about 12 times its volume after
neutralisation.
• Uses-
• It is a good pharmaceutical aid and is used as a protective colloid to
stabilise emulsions. Mainly it is used to suspend other insoluble
powders.
• It finds use as an emulsifier for oil in water emulsions.
• It is also used as a base for many pharmaceutical preparations
including plasters and ointments.
• It is an ingredient of calamine lotion which is used as a protective.
• Swelling factor-
• It is measured by dropping from the top. Add 2g of bentonite in 10
portions at intervals of 2minutes to 100ml of water in a 100ml
graduated cylinder about 3cm in diameter. Allow each portions to
settle before adding the next and let it stand for 1day. Bentonite
swells up at the bottom and it should occupy an apparent volume of
not less than 24ml.

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CATHARTICS

• Cathartics are drugs used to relieve

The cathartics/laxatives can be considered under the following class-

 It is obtained by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on magnesium carbonate

Storage- It is kept in tightly closed container.

1. It is obtained by adding sodium carbonate to a hot solution of phosphoric acid.

H3PO4 + Na2CO3 Na2HPO4 + H2O + CO2

Ca3 (PO4)2 + 2H2SO4 Ca (H2PO4)2 + 2CaSO4

Ca (H2PO4)2 + Na2CO3 CaHPO4 + Na2HPO4 + CO2 + H2O

2 Na2HPO4 Na2P2O7 + H2O

It is used as a saline laxative. It is a cathartic and buffering agent.

It is stored in tightly closed containers.

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