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Aromatic
Carminatives
Essential oils are
volatile odorous principles which are soluble in alcohol but only to a
very limited extent in water. Chemically they are mixtures of esters,
aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, and terpenes. In many foreign pharmacopeias
volatile oils are described as ethereal oils (aetherolca).
Taken internally,
the volatile oils, as a group, exert a mild irritant action on the mucous
membranes of the mouth and digestive tract, which induces a feeling of
warmth and increases salivation; they are therefore included in stomachic
mixtures to stimulate appetite and aid digestion. Their excretion takes
place through the lungs, skin, and kidneys; during excretion by the
bronchioles they act as mild expectorants and have a slight antiseptic
action. The irritant action causes some acceleration of respiration,
stimulation of the heart's action, and a transient rise in blood pressure,
and they are therefore employed as reflex restoratives in syncope, though
usually in conjunction with more potent irritants, e.g. Aromatic Spirit of
Ammonia. Taken after meals they are carminative and are employed for the
relief of gastric discomfort and of flatulent colic, and also to
counteract the griping action of purgatives.
Essential oils
should be used with caution as large doses cause irritation of the
kidneys, bladder, and urethra, and even small doses may aggravate
pre-existing inflammatory conditions.
When applied to the
intact skin essential oils have an irritant and rubefacient action,
causing first a sensation of warmth and smarting, which is followed by a
mild local anesthesia. For this reason they are used as counter-irritants
and cutaneous stimulants in the treatment of chronic inflammatory
conditions, to relieve neuralgia and rheumatic pains, and for application
to the chest wall in bronchitis and pleurisy. Care should be taken to
avoid blistering.
When inhaled they
arrest profuse secretion and relieve congestion of the bronchioles, and
they may be employed for this purpose in conditions such as chronic
bronchitis. Information on essential oils and their preparations not
included in the following group is given under the drugs from which they
are manufactured (see Index).
Storage. Essential oils should be stored in small
, well-filled, well-closed containers, protected from light in a cool
place.
ANTIOXIDANTS FOR
ESSENTIAL OILS. See under Alkyl Gallates, p.273
Anise
(B.P.C.). Anis.; Anise Fruit; Aniseed; Fructus
Anisi Vulgaris; Anis Vert.
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Belg., Chil., Cz., Egyp., Fr., Ger., Hung., Ind., Jug.,
Nor., Pol., Span., and Swiss.
The dried ripe fruit of
Pimpinella anisum (Umbelliferae), containing not less than
2 % v/w of volatile oil.
Powdered Anise (B.P.C.) Contains not less than 1-7% v/w of volatile oil.
Store in a cool, dry place.
Uses. Anise is carminative and mildly
expectorant; it is used mainly as the oil or preparations of the oil.
Aq. Anis. Dest. (B.P.C.
1934, Egyp. P.). Distilled Anise Water. Anise 10 g. and
water 200 ml.; distil 100 ml. Dose: 15
to 30 ml. � to 1 fl. oz.).
Star Anise (B.P.C.
1934). Anisum Steilatum; Star Anise Fruit; Anisum Badium; Badiana; Anis
Etoile'; Badiane de Chine; Sternanis; Anis estrellado.
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Chil., Chin., Fr., and
Swiss.
The dried ripe fruit of
Illicium verum (Magnoliaceae),
containing about 5 % of volitile oil. Store in
a cool dry place. It is used principally as a source of Anise Oil.
Japanese Star
Anise,
Illicium religiostum, is smaller and less regular in
appearance, and contains a poisonous principle, sikamin. The volatile oil
contains safrole.
I. religiosum goes by the name of 'Badiane' in China
and Japan, and in the Philippines a decoction named 'sanki' is made from
the fruit and is used for it's stimulating effects.
Anise Oil (B.P., I.P.). Ol. Anis.; Oil of Aniseed; Essene d'Anis; Escencia de
anis.
Dose: 0-06 to 0-2 ml. (1 to 3 minims).
Foreign Pharmacopias: In all pharmacopeias examined except
Belg. And
Jap.
A colourless or pale yellow oil obtained by distillation from anise or
star anise. It has a characteristic odour, and a sweet, aromatic taste. It
contains about 80 to 90 % of anethole. Wt per ml. 0-978 to 0-992 g. F.p.
not below 15 . If the oil has crystallised it should be melted
completely and mixed before use. Soluble 1
in 3 of alcohol (90 %).
A colourless or pale yellow oil obtained by distillation from anise or
star anise. It has a characteristic odour, and a sweet, aromatic taste. It
contains about 80 to 90 % of anethole. Wt per ml. 0-978 to 0-992 g. F.p.
not below 15 . If the oil has crystallised it should be melted
completely and mixed before use. Soluble 1
in 3 of alcohol (90 %).
Uses. An aromatic carminative, expectorant, and
flavouring agent. It is a common ingredient of cough mixtures and
lozenges.
Concentrated
Anise Water (B.P.C.) Aq. Anis. Conc. Anise oil 2 ml., alcohol (90 %) 60 ml.,
water to 100 ml.; shaken with talc and filtered. It is about 40 times as
strong as distilled anise water. Dose: 0-3 to 1 ml. (5 to 15 minims).
Emuls. Anis. Et Menth. Pip. (B.P.C.
1949). Emulsion of Anise and Peppermint.
Anise oil 2 ml., peppermint oil 2 ml., saccharin sodium 2 g., liquid
extract of quillaia 0-1 ml., water to 100 ml.
Store in a warm place
Dose: 0-3 to 2 ml. (5 to 30 minims).
Emulsion of Anise (B.P.C.).
Emuls. Anis. Anise oil 2 ml., liquid extract of quillaia 0-25 ml., water
to 100 ml. Store in a warm place.
Dose: 0-3 to 2 ml. (5 to 30 minims).
Sp. Anis. (B.P.C.
1949). Spirit of Anise. Anise oil 10 ml., alcohol (90 %) to 100mil. Dose:
0-3 to 1-2 ml. (5 to 20 minims).
Anethole (U.S.P., Belg P.) Anethol. 1 - Methoxy - 4 propenylbenzene.C10H12O = 148-2.
Dose: 0-03 to 0-2 ml. � to 3 minims).
A white or faintly yellow crystalline mass, melting at or above
230
to a colourless
or faintly yellow liquid with the characteristic odour and taste of anise.
It is obtained from anise oil or prepared synthetically. Slightly soluble
in water; soluble 1 in 2 of alcohol; soluble in chloroform and ether.
Uses. It is used for the same purposes as anise
oil.
Bay Oil
(B.P.C. 1949). Ol. Myrc.; Myrcia Oil
(U.S.N.F.).
A yellow oil, darkening rapidly on exposure to air, with a pleasant odour
and spicy taste, obtained by distillation from the leaves of
Pimenta acris (=P. Racemosa) (Myrtaceae) and probably other allied
species. It contains 50-65 % v/v of phenols. Wt per ml. 0-940 to 0-985 g.
Soluble, when freshly distilled, 1 in 1 of
alcohol.
Uses. Its principal use is in the prepartation
of bay rum, which is used as a wash for the hair and as an astringent
application to the face after shaving.
Compound Myrcia
Spirit (U.S.N.F. 1949),
Bay oil 8 ml., orange oil 0-5 ml., pimento oil 0-5 ml., alcohol 610 ml.,
water to 1000 ml.
Sp. Myrc. Co.
(B.P.C.
1949).
Compound Spirit of Bay; Compound Spirit of Pimento. Bay oil 8-75 ml.,
orange oil 0-62 ml., pimento oil 0-62 ml., water to 1000 ml. Dissolve the
oils, the extract and the saponin in the alcohol and adjust to volume with
water; set aside for 8 days, add a little talc, and filter.
Similar preparations, colored brown, are sold as bay rum.
Bergamot Oil
(B.P.C.
1949). Ol.
Bergam.; Essence of Bergamot.
Foreign Parmacopeias: In Belg., Egyp., Fr., Hung., Jap., Spn., Swed., and Swiss.
Also in U.S.N.F.
A greenish or
brownish-yellow oil with a pleasant odour and a bitter aromatic taste,
obtained by expression from the fresh peel of the fruit of
Citrus bergamia (Rutaceae). It contains about 40 % w/w of
esters calculated as linalyl acetate. Wt per ml. 0-876 to 0-881 g.
Soluble 1 in 2 of alcohol.
Uses. It is chiefly employed in perfumery,
especially in preparations for the hair.
Cologne Spirit. Spiritus Coloniensis (B.P.C. 1949). Aqua Coloniensis. A form of Eau de Cologne
prepared from bergamot oil 1-25 ml., lemon oil 0-5 ml., neroli oil 0-2m.,.
rosemary oil 0-15 ml., thyme oil 0-05 ml., concentrated orange - flower
water 0-3 ml., water 4-17 ml., and alcohol (90 %) to 100 ml.
Volatile Bitter
Almond Oil (B.P.). Ol. Amygdal. Vol.; Purified Volatile Oil of Bitter
Almond; Oleum Amygdalae Amarac sine Acido Prussico; Oleum Amygdalae Amarae
(s.A.P.); Oleum Amygdalae Amarae sine Acido Hydrocyanico.
Dose: 0-016 to 0-06 ml. (1/4 to 1 minim).
Obtained by distillation from the cake left after pressing out the fixed
oil from bitter almonds, or peach or apricot kernels. This distillate is
freed from hydrogen cyanide by treatment with calcium hydroxide and
ferrous sulphate, followed by redistillation. It contains not less than 95
% w/w of benzaldehyde.
A colorless or pale yellow liquid with an odour and taste of bitter
almond. Wt per ml. About 1-044 g. Soluble 1
in 300 of water, 1 in 2 of alcohol (70 %), in ether, and fixed and
volatile oils.
Uses. It is employed as a flavouring agent for
emulsions and for culinary purposes
Benzaldehyde (B.P.C.
1934). Artificial Essential Oil of Almond.
C6H5 CHO =106.1
Dose: 0.03 ml. (� minim).
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Belg., Chil., Dan., Ger., Hung., Mex., and Nor. Also
in U.S.N.F.
A colourless strongly refractive liquid with an odour of bitter almond and
a burning aromatic taste. Wt per ml. About 1-05 g.
Soluble 1 in 350 of water; miscible with alcohol,
ether, and fixed and volatile oils. It becomes yellowish on keeping and
oxidises in air to benzoic acid.
Uses. It is used as a flavoring agent in place
of volatile bitter almond oil.
Compound Benzaldehyde Elixir (U.S.N.F.).
Benzaldehyde 0-05 ml., vanillin 100 mg., orange flower water 15 ml.,
alcohol 5 ml., syrup 40 ml., water to 100 ml. It is used as a flavoring
agent., particularly for the administration of bromides.
Reproduced From
Martindale's Extra Pharmacopeia 24th Edition
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