Abstract

A REVIEW ON: OINTMENT AND OINTMENT BASES

*Rajveer Bhaskar, Monica Ola, Prakash H. Patil and Kalpesh S. Nawandar

Abstract

Pharmaceutical semisolid preparation includes ointment, cream, paste emulsion gel and rigid foams. These preparation serve as a carrier for drugs. Ointment can adhere to the application surface for long period of time before they are washed off. These property of ointment helps for prolong drug delivery at the site of application. Ointments may be medicated or non-medicated. Oleaginous ointments are preferred for dry, chapped skin in the environment of low humidity because of its occlusive properties. Ointments are mainly evaluated by physical test like test for rate of absorption, test for non irritancy, test for penetration, test of drug release, test of rheological property, test of content uniformity and also by microbiological test like microbial content and preservative efficacy.

Keywords: semisolid, ointment, ointment bases, Brookfield viscometer, additives in ointment, penetrometer.