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 differ in effectiveness of action and relative safety in terms of side effects.

Definition

Called galenic 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 for the manufacture of such products. Use drugs of this group is allowed mainly only orally. Some of them can be designed for external use.

In addition to galenic 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 vegetable and animal raw materials practically in pure form - without any additional unnecessary substances. Drugs of this group can be used including for injections.

A bit of history

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 and the scientific work on such medicines, until our time is the basis of a whole direction of the market of medicines.

The ancient doctor made the preparations 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 to use alcohol as well.

Classification

One of the features of galenic drugs is their diversity in composition and pharmacological action. Therefore, it is rather 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;
• Aromatic waters;
• Soap and soap / cresol products.

Also, galenic drugs can be classified and based on raw materials. In this regard, distinguish:

• Organopreparations (obtained from animal raw materials);
• Phytopreparations;
• Complex complex pharmaceutical drugs.

The group of phytopreparations, in turn, includes:

• Extracts;
• Tinctures;
• Concentrates-extracts;
• Oil extracts;
• Novogalenovye funds;
• Preparations from fresh plants (mainly extracts and juices).

What is an extract?

It is these drugs are the main and most common group of galenic drugs. 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 not contain more than 25%, and the residue 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:

• Extracts-concentrates used for making infusions and decoctions;
• Oil extracts.

Methods of obtaining extracts

These most common galenical preparations can be manufactured according to two main technologies:

• By static extraction;
• By the dynamic.

In the first case, the feed is periodically poured by the extractant. Then he was defended for some time. A dynamic method of obtaining a drug involves either a continuous movement of the extractant or its constant change.

Most often for the preparation of galenic drugs use a 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 means of turbo extraction;
• With the help of ultrasound;
• In a filter centrifuge;
• By means of high-voltage pulses.

There is also a static method for making galenic preparations, such as remaceration.

Of the dynamic technologies in the production of drugs of this group, percolation is most often used - continuous filtration of the extractant through a layer of raw materials.

Manufacture of herbal medicines

This is also a fairly common group of natural medicines. Tinctures refers to liquid alcohol extracts derived 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 main stages:

• Soaking raw materials;
• infusion;
• Straining the extractant through a bed of raw materials.

Benefits of using

Known galenic preparations to mankind, 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 the new generation.

Characteristics galenovyh drugs can use them to people with almost any characteristics of the body. The unconditional advantages of such medicines include:

1. Naturalness. When manufacturing medicines of this group, only natural raw materials are used. Therefore, such drugs are relatively safe in terms of side effects.
2. Possibility of long-term use. The active substances of such drugs participate in the processes of the human body as organically as possible.
3. Low level of allergenicity and toxicity.
4. Easy digestibility by the human body.

In the manufacture of galenic and novogalenovye drugs are much simpler than chemical-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 drugs

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.

Galenic preparations: the list of the most popular

The modern pharmacological industry produces a variety of medications of this group. For example, consumers are very popular with galenic drugs, 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.
• Tincture of calendula. Used to treat 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

These are the most common galenical preparations. 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 sedative and spasmolytic effect on the patients.