Galenic preparations: characteristic, list
There are many kinds of medicines. And one of the widest is the group of galenic medicines. Preparations of this variety are characterized by efficacy of action and relative safety in terms of side effects.
Definition of
The name galenic is those drugs that were obtained from the plant( roots, green mass, flowers, seeds) or animal raw materials by special treatment to obtain an active principle and get rid of unnecessary ballast substances. In most cases, the technology of extracting from the feedstock using agents such as alcohol, water or ether is used to manufacture such means. Use drugs of this group is allowed mainly only orally. Some of them can be designed for external use.
In addition to herbal medicines, the modern pharmacological industry produces and novogalenovye medicines. In the manufacture of such products, special very sophisticated technologies are used that make it possible to obtain an active ingredient from plant and animal raw materials in practically pure form - without any additional unnecessary substances. Preparations of this group can be used, including for injections.
A bit of the history of
At present, mainly chemical preparations are used for human treatment. Galenic and novogalenovye medicines, however, have recently become more popular. Named medicines of this variety were in honor of the ancient Roman philosopher and doctor Galen. It was this naturalist who first guessed that the beneficial effects on the human body are not the medicinal herbs themselves, but only certain constituent substances in their composition. K. Galen, among other things, belongs to the scientific work on such medicines, which until our time is the basis of a whole direction of the market of medicines.
This ancient doctor produced from plants based on water. However, a little later physicians noticed that not all useful substances can dissolve in it. Therefore, to isolate the active principle, ancient pharmacists began using alcohol as well.
Classification of
One of the features of galenic agents is their diversity in composition and pharmacological action. Therefore, it is quite difficult to classify such medicines.
In most cases, in specialized literature, galenical preparations are divided into only two large groups - extracts, solutions and mixtures. The group of the first drugs include, for example, tinctures, compounds extracted from the secretory glands, glycosides, vitamins, alkaloids. A group of solutions and mixtures includes:
- syrups;
- preparations obtained by dissolving dry extracts;
- fragrant water;
- soap and soap-cresol products.
Also, galenic medicines can be classified according to the raw material. In this regard, distinguish:
- organ preparations( obtained from animal raw materials);
- phytopreparations;
- complex complex pharmaceutical drugs.
The phytopreparation group, in turn, includes:
- extracts;
- tincture;
- concentrate extracts;
- oil extracts;
- Novogaline preparations;
- preparations from fresh plants( mainly extracts and juices).
What is an extract of
It is these drugs that are the main and most common group of galenic products. Extracts are highly concentrated extracts from medicinal plants. Consistency such preparations can have both liquid, and firm or viscous. It can be called an extract only if the active substance concentration in it is equal to or greater than the corresponding index in the medicinal plant itself.
Liquid preparations of this group are alcohol extracts, obtained in a 1: 1 ratio. The advantages of such drugs are the same ratio between active ingredients and the convenience of metering. The disadvantage of liquid extracts is generally considered to be only a high content of concomitant substances.
Thick preparations of this variety are concentrated alcohol extracts or ether extracts. Moisture in viscous masses should contain no more than 25%, and the remainder by mass - not less than 70%.
Dry solid extracts are generally referred to as powders or sponge porous masses. Moisture in such preparations should contain no more than 5%, and the dry residue - not less than 95%.In some cases, various auxiliary substances or extracts of a different concentration are mixed with such masses.
Thick and dry preparations have the advantage that they contain more active substance than liquid ones. In addition, they are easier to transport. The disadvantage of the same thick extracts is that, under certain conditions, they can dry out or, conversely, dampen and deteriorate.
In addition to thick, solid and liquid galenic preparations, modern industry also produces:
- extract concentrates used for making infusions and decoctions;
- oily hoods.
Methods for extracting
These most common galenical preparations can be manufactured using two main technologies:
- by static extraction;
- by dynamic.
In the first case, the raw material is periodically filled with an extractant. Then he was defended for some time. The dynamic way of obtaining a medicine assumes either a continuous movement of the extractant or its constant shift.
The most common method for obtaining galenic drugs is using the static method. The roots of this simple technology goes back centuries. In ancient Rome, even today, for example, simple techniques such as maceration are often used to make extracts. Also preparations of this group can be obtained:
- by turbo extraction;
- using ultrasound;
- in a filter centrifuge;
- by means of high-voltage pulses.
There is also a static method for making galenic preparations, such as remacerating.
Dynamic technologies in the production of drugs of this group are most often used percolation - continuous filtration of the extractant through a layer of raw materials.
Production of galenic preparations-tinctures
This is also a fairly common group of natural medicines. Tinctures are called liquid alcohol extracts, obtained from dried or fresh animal or plant material.
As an extractant for such preparations, hydroalcoholic solutions with a concentration of 30 to 95% are usually used. Prepare tinctures more often by percolation. This technology includes several basic stages:
- soaking of raw materials;
- infusion;
- straining the extractant through a layer of raw material.
Advantages of using
Galenic preparations for mankind are known, thus, for more than 2 thousand years. At one time, when chemotherapy drugs appeared, they were, lost their positions. However, later with the development of such branches of science as biophysics and biochemistry, this type of medicine again became very popular. Pharmacological companies have started production of medicines of this group of new generation.
Characteristics galenovyh drugs can use them to people with almost any characteristics of the body. The unconditional advantages of such medicines include:
- Naturalness. When manufacturing medicines of this group, only natural raw materials are used. Therefore, such drugs are relatively safe in terms of side effects.
- Possibility of long-term use. The active substances of such drugs participate in the processes of the human body as organically as possible.
- Low degree of allergenicity and toxicity.
- Easy digestibility by the human body.
In manufacture galenic and novogalenovye preparations are much more simple, than chemico-therapeutic. And therefore their production is considered economically justified. In addition, the material itself used to make such medicines is reproducible.
What determines the therapeutic effectiveness of
The active substance in such drugs is usually not one, as in the chemotherapeutic. After all, plants contain a number of components useful to the human body, from enzymes and vitamins to proteins and phytoncides. When processing raw materials, all these substances almost completely pass into the extract. Therefore, on the human body, galenic drugs have not a highly specialized effect, but a complex one.
Galenical preparations: the list of the most popular
The modern pharmacological industry produces a variety of medications of this group. For example, very popular with consumers are galenic preparations, such as:
- Propolis tincture. This medicine can be used for otitis media, tonsillitis, pharyngitis. You can use it for some other diseases.
- Antiseptic solutions. They are used to treat the initial stages of mastitis, furuncles.
- Calendula tincture. Used for the treatment of wounds, against acne and inflammation.
- Tincture of ginseng. It is used for neurasthenia, asthenia, diabetes mellitus.
- Extract of echinacea. Used to strengthen immunity. It can be used, for example, for flu, cold, angina.
The most popular drug
This is the most common galenic drugs. The examples given above are very popular among consumers. You can buy them in the pharmacy of almost any, even the smallest settlement. However, the most famous galenic drug is probably still a valerian extract. This medicine has a calming and spasmolytic effect on the patients.