Tinctures

TINCTURES, tincturae (from Latin tingere - to dye), are liquid, transparent, colored medicinal preparations produced by extracting plant or animal drugs with alcohol, ether, wine, acetone, a mixture of alcohol and ether, or alcohol with water. The difference between tinctures and extracts is that the extraction process in the preparation of tinctures takes place at room temperature, and tinctures are neither heated nor evaporated. The variety of extracting liquids used in the preparation of tinctures is determined by the desire to isolate from the plant or animal drug all the therapeutically active components contained in it, obtain them in a dissolved state, and, if possible, separate unnecessary ballast substances. Ethyl alcohol extracts most alkaloids and glycosides, camphor, tannins, many resins, essential oils, organic acids, and partly fatty acids well; proteins and carbohydrates poorly; and almost does not extract most inorganic salts at all. Ethyl ether extracts iodine, bromine, most resins, fatty and essential oils, fats, wax, and many alkaloids exceptionally well. Acetone extracts cantharidin very well. Water extracts inorganic and organic salts, acids, alkalis, alkaloid salts, carbohydrates, mucilages, etc. soluble in it; poorly extracts fatty and essential oils, resins, free alkaloids, some organic acids, etc. Grape wines formerly used for making tinctures—Sherry, Malaga, Marsala, white and red wines—are now no longer indicated at all in the 7th USSR Pharmacopoeia for the preparation of dosage forms, because wines always differ in the extreme diversity of their constituents, and tinctures prepared on wine prove to be of very variable composition. The German Pharmacopoeia still permits the preparation of a single official wine tincture (on Sherry)—Tinctura Rhei vinosa. By varying the choice of extracting liquids, concentration, and temperature at which the preparation of tinctures is conducted, tinctures can be prepared most expediently. Prepared tinctures containing alcohol or ether in their composition possess antiseptic properties and usually do not spoil if stored in a dark place in well-stoppered bottles at ordinary temperature (7th USSR Pharmacopoeia). According to the liquid applied for extraction, a tinctura receives its defining designation: spirituosa, aetherea, vinosa, aquosa, etc. Since most tinctures are prepared with alcohol, in prescriptions the word Tinctura very frequently omits the definition spirituosa as being self-evident. If tinctures are prepared from a single substance, simple (simplex) tinctures are obtained, and upon extraction from several substances, compound (composita) tinctures. During the period of the development of alchemy, very thick and very dark tinctures were called elixirs; solutions of extracts and other medicinal substances in tinctures were also called elixirs. The name elixirs has survived in pharmacy to the present time, e.g., Elixir viscerale Hoffmanni, Elixir amarum, etc. Somewhat less thick and colored ones bore the name of essences, quintessences, and balms. Strictly as tinctures, only fairly lightly colored tinctures were designated. Even earlier, under the prominent Arab physician Avicenna (980-1076), tinctures were understood to mean the alteration and transformation (mutatio) of some body in water. Such an understanding does not correspond at all to our present conception of a tincture as a dosage form. In pharmacy, the name of tinctures has survived to the present time for certain medicaments, although essentially these medicaments represent other types of dosage forms. Such are: Tinctura Jodi; it has now begun to be correctly named, in accordance with the indication of the 1925 international convention, as an alcoholic solution of iodine, Solutio Jodi spirituosa (it would be necessary to add further...) [Note: text ends abruptly in source: Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, vol. XXXII, p. 323].

TINCTURES

324 centrata); Tinctura Ferri chlorati aetherea—the well-known Bestuzhev drops; the All-Union Pharmacopoeia correctly names this medicine an alcohol-ether solution of ferric chloride—Spiritus aethereus ferratus; Tinctura Ferri acetici aetherea, known under the name of Clalroth drops, is an alcohol-ether solution of ferric acetate salt—Solutio Ferri acetici spirituoso-aetherea, etc. Modern pharmacopoeias quite uniformly establish the requirements that must be observed in the preparation of tinctures. The Soviet Pharmacopoeia VII indicates that tinctures are prepared either by infusion (maceration method) or by extraction in a percolator. The substances serving for the extraction of active principles from them must be finely cut or reduced to powder. Extraction by the maceration method is carried out in a tightly stoppered vessel in most cases for 7 days (according to the German Pharmacopoeia, 10 days), at a temperature of 15–20° and with frequent agitation; after this, the liquid is drained, the residue is expressed under a press, and, having mixed both portions of the tincture, it is allowed to stand until clear and filtered. The loss of alcohol (15–20%) or ether retained in the extracted substance must not be replenished with a new amount of the respective liquid, so as not to reduce thereby the concentration of the active principles dissolved in the tincture. For the preparation of a tincture from mildly active or non-poisonous substances, one part of the substance is taken to five parts of the extracting liquid. If, however, tinctures are prepared from strongly active or poisonous substances, enough liquid is taken for extraction so that 10 parts of the tincture are obtained from one part of the substance. Most tinctures containing strongly active or poisonous substances are prepared by extraction in a percolator, and others by the maceration method in wide-necked bottles, jars, or well-glazed clay pots. If a tincture is obtained with a greater content of active principles than established by the pharmacopoeia, the tincture must be diluted with the extracting liquid to the standard specified by the pharmacopoeia; tinctures with a lesser content of active principles must not be used. Tinctures must be transparent, and have the proper color, odor, and taste of the substances from which they are prepared. Upon storage, many tinctures become darker. The preparation of tinctures is usually carried out using 70° alcohol, which penetrates plant and animal cells more easily and therefore extracts active principles more completely than 90–95° alcohol, which easily precipitates cell proteins and thus creates an obstacle to proper extraction. However, for certain tinctures containing resinous substances and essential oils, it is more rational to use 90° alcohol; Tinctura Cannabis indicae, T. Capsici, Tinctura Castorei, T. Convallariae majalis, T. Myrrhae, and some other tinctures are therefore prepared with 90° alcohol. The All-Union Pharmacopoeia distinguishes the preparation of lily-of-the-valley tincture further by prescribing that the tincture be prepared from freshly gathered lily of the valley, infusing it with 90° alcohol for 14 days. To test the authenticity and quality of tinctures, the amount of active principles in them is determined or a physiological evaluation of their potency is carried out. When these data cannot be precise (which especially applies to mildly active tinctures), one is limited to determining the dry residue obtained by evaporation at 100–105°, the specific gravity of the tincture, and the alcohol strength in the tincture, as well as organoleptic properties (color, taste, odor). Pharmacopoeia VII indicates the standard characteristics of each of the official tinctures and, furthermore, indicates that tinctures must not contain salts of heavy metals. Pharmacopoeia VII contains 36 tinctures; the attached list of tinctures gives a clear idea that the medicinal form under consideration is prepared from a significant number of various ingredients. Thorns (Hermann Thorns) in his newest (1929) manual on pharmacy lists about 190 numbers of various tinctures, of which 41 tinctures are official according to the German Pharmacopoeia VI; but the total number of tinctures prepared from diverse medicinal substances is very large and can hardly be counted. It can be said that almost all plant preparations have been or are prepared into one tincture or another for medical use. Such wide use of tinctures as a medicinal form is explained by the following circumstances: in tinctures we have the concentrated active constituents of plant or animal material, so that this form is advantageous first of all from an economic standpoint; the resulting tinctures change little and can be stored for a long time without spoilage of the active substances, occupy relatively small spaces during storage, and are sufficiently portable during transportation; tinctures provide the opportunity to use plant and animal preparations at the time of harvesting medicinal materials, when a greater yield of active substances is obtained from them. The significance of tinctures in a pharmacodynamic respect and in therapy is also very great due to the fact that medicinal substances are in tinctures in a dissolved state, i.e., in a form ready for absorption and reaction; furthermore, the alcohol or ether on which one tincture or another is prepared significantly accelerates the absorption and action of the medicinal constituent parts of the taken tincture both in internal use and in external use of tinctures, contributing in the latter case to a deeper and more energetic local effect on mucous membranes, skin, and wound surfaces. Subcutaneously, tinctures are usually not used because of their locally irritating properties that cause significant pain. Internally, tinctures are given up to 15–20 drops per dose; one should avoid giving large amounts of tinctures internally so as not to introduce significant amounts of alcohol or ether into the medicine, which are far from indifferent to the organism. In pediatric practice, for the same reason, the prescribing of tinctures should be entirely excluded. It is not recommended to mix tinctures either with each other or with (aqueous) mixtures, since very often the active principles of tinctures precipitate as a sediment or turbidity, and thus the significance of the tincture is lost. Official tinctures according to Pharmacopoeia VII. Tinctura Absinthii, wormwood tincture: 2 parts of coarsely crushed wormwood herb to 10 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.895–0.9045; dry residue 2.3–2.8%; alcohol 66–68% by volume. Internally per dose 10 drops 2–3 times a day. Appetite-stimulating, digestion-improving. Tinctura Aconiti, aconite tincture: 10 parts of fine powder of aconite tubers and q. s. of 70° alcohol. Alkaloids 0.05%; alcohol 66–68.5% by volume. Maximum internal dose per dose 0.5, per day 1.5. Anti-neuralgic—for local anesthesia externally. Tinctura Aloes, aloes tincture: 1 part of coarsely crushed aloes to 5 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.947–0.950; dry residue 12.5–18%; alcohol 58–63% by volume. Internally per dose 5–30 drops. Irritating to the stomach and intestines, increasing the secretion of digestive juices. Tinctura Aloes composita, compound aloes tincture: 9 parts of crushed aloes, 1 part of coarsely pounded gentian root, 1 part of coarsely pounded rhubarb rhizome, 1 part of saffron, 1 part of coarsely pounded zedoary rhizome to 200 parts of 70° alcohol. Internally 1/2–1 teaspoonful several times a day. Appetite-stimulating, digestion-improving. Tinctura amara, bitter tincture: 2 parts of coarsely pounded unripe bitter orange fruit, 2 parts of finely cut centaury herb, 2 parts of coarsely crushed gentian root, 1 part of coarsely pounded zedoary rhizome to 35 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.905–0.907; dry residue 4–6%; alcohol 65–68% by volume. Internally per dose 20–50 drops several times a day. Appetite-stimulating, digestion-improving. Tinctura Arnicae, arnica tincture: 1 part of cut arnica flowers to 10 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.898–0.905; dry residue 1.5–2%; alcohol 66–68% by volume. Internally per dose 10–30 drops 2–3 times a day, externally in pure form or diluted with water in the form of compresses or lotions for bruises, injuries, neuralgias. Tinctura Aurantii, bitter orange peel tincture: 2 parts of coarsely crushed peel, cleaned of white pulp, to 10 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.910–0.917; dry residue 4–5%; alcohol 65–67% by volume; internally per dose 1.0–4.0 several times a day. Flavor corrector for mixtures. Tinctura Belladonnae, belladonna tincture: 10 parts of belladonna leaf powder and q. s. of 70° alcohol. Alkaloids 0.035%; alcohol 67–69% by volume. Internally maximum dose per dose 0.5, per day 1.5; externally in enemas. Analgesic, antispasmodic. Tinctura Cannabis indicae, Indian hemp tincture: 10 parts of coarsely crushed Indian hemp herb and q. s. of 90° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.839–0.843; alcohol 87–88% by volume. Internally maximum dose per dose 1.25, per day 3.75. Analgesic for metrorrhagia and menorrhagia. Tinctura Cantharidis, cantharides tincture: 10 parts of coarsely pounded cantharides and q. s. of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.893–0.904; dry residue 1.5–2.2%; alcohol 67–69% by volume. Internally maximum dose per dose 0.2 (3 drops), per day 0.6; superfluous and dangerous preparation; in the form of rubs, liniments, ointments, pomades as a skin irritant—to enhance hair growth.

Tinctura Capsici, capsicum tincture: 1 part finely cut capsicum with seeds per 10 parts of 90° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.837–0.843; dry residue 1.42–1.58%; alcohol 86–88% by volume. Internal dose 0.5–1.5 several times a day to stimulate stomach activity; externally in the form of mouth and throat gargles 1.0–10.0 : 100.0 and for embrocations as a rubefacient. Tinctura Castorei, castoreum tincture: 1 part coarsely ground and dried castoreum per 10 parts of 90° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.845–0.849; dry residue 3.45–4.65%; alcohol 86–88% by volume. Internal dose 1.0–3.0 as a nervous system stimulant. Tinctura Chinae, cinchona tincture: 10 parts coarsely pounded cinchona bark per 50 parts of 70° alcohol. Alkaloids 0.74%; dry residue 4–6%; alcohol 64–66% by volume. Internally 1.0–4.0 two to three times a day. Appetizer. Tinctura Chinae composita, compound cinchona tincture: 6 parts coarsely pounded cinchona bark, 1 part coarsely pounded cinnamon, 2 parts coarsely pounded orange peel, 2 parts coarsely pounded gentian root per 50 parts of 70° alcohol. Alkaloids 0.37%; dry residue 6–8%; alcohol 63–65% by volume. Internally 1.0–5.0 two to three times a day. Appetizer, improves nutrition. Tinctura Cinnamomi, cinnamon tincture: 2 parts coarsely pounded cinnamon per 10 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.895–0.905; dry residue 1.2–2%; alcohol 65–68% by volume. Internally 1.0–3.0 several times a day. Digestive stimulant; externally as an admixture to mouthwashes, tooth tinctures, and tooth elixirs. Tinctura Convallariae majalis, lily of the valley tincture: 100 parts pounded fresh lily of the valley herb per 120 parts of 90° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.925–0.927; dry residue 2.2–3%; alcohol 56–59% by volume. Maximum single dose 1.25, daily 3.75. Used for cardiac nervous diseases.

Tinctura Digitalis, digitalis tincture: 10 parts coarsely ground digitalis leaves and q. s. 70° alcohol. Tincture potency 4 units of action in 1 g of tincture; specific gravity 0.9025–0.907; dry residue 2.5–3.2%; alcohol 66–69% by volume. Internal maximum single dose 1.0 / daily 3.0. Cardiac remedy.

Tinctura Ferri pomati, iron malate tincture: 1 part iron malate extract per 9 parts cinnamon spirit water. Iron 0.4–0.5% in the form of salts; specific gravity 1.021–1.030; dry residue 6–9.2%. Internally 1.0–3.0 several times a day; for anemia. Tinctura Gallarum, nutgall tincture: 1 part coarsely ground nutgalls per 5 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.945–0.958; dry residue 12.5–14.6%; alcohol 61–64% by volume. Internally 0.75–2.0 several times a day as an astringent; externally (similarly as an astringent) for mouth rinsing, gum lubrication, in enemas. Tinctura Gentianae, gentian tincture: 2 parts coarsely pounded gentian root per 10 parts of 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.916–0.920; dry residue 6–6.5%; alcohol 63–67% by volume. Internally 1.0–3.0 several times a day. Appetizer, improves digestion. Tinctura Jodi, iodine tincture: 1 part sublimated iodine per 9 parts of 95° alcohol. Iodine 9.5–10%; specific gravity 0.887–0.891. Internal maximum single dose 0.2, daily 0.6; externally in cases where iodine is indicated. Tinctura Ipecacuanhae, ipecac tincture: 10 parts fine ipecac root powder and q. s. 70° alcohol. Alkaloids 0.2%; alcohol 67–69% by volume. Internal maximum single dose 2.0, daily 4.0, as an expectorant and emetic; disinfectant in amebic dysentery. Tinctura Menthae piperitae, peppermint tincture: 1 part cut peppermint leaves, 1 part peppermint oil per 20 parts of 90° alcohol. Internally 5–10 drops several times a day; taste corrector for mixtures, cooling and flavoring agent for gargles. Tinctura Myrrhae, myrrh tincture: 1 part myrrh powder per 5 parts of 90° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.843–0.856; dry residue 4.24–5.26%; alcohol 84–87% by volume. Externally for mouthwashes.

Tinctura Opii benzoica, benzoic-opiate tincture: 1 part anise oil, 2 parts camphor, 4 parts benzoic acid, 10 parts opium tincture per 183 parts of 70° alcohol (morphine 0.05%). Specific gravity 0.891–0.901; alcohol 66–67% by volume. Internal dose 1.0–4.0 several times a day; sedative for coughs.

Tinctura Opii crocata, saffron-opium tincture: 15 parts powdered opium, 1 part coarsely crushed cinnamon, 1 part coarsely crushed cloves, 5 parts coarsely crushed saffron, 70 parts water per 70 parts of 70° alcohol (1% morphine). Internally, maximum single dose 1.0, daily 3.0. Analgesic, sedative, antispasmodic, anti-diarrheal. Temporarily discontinued in production. Tinctura Opii simplex, simple opium tincture: 4 parts powdered opium, 19 parts 70° alcohol, and 19 parts water (1% morphine). Internally, maximum single dose 1.0, daily 3.0; pain-relieving, sedative, antispasmodic, anti-diarrheal. Tinctura Polygoni hydropiperis, water pepper tincture: 2 parts coarsely comminuted water pepper herb per 10 parts 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.897–0.902; dry residue 2–3%; alcohol 66–68% by volume. Internally 1.0–2.0 several times a day. Hemostatic for uterine, hemorrhoidal bleedings, etc. Tinctura Ratanhiae, rhatany tincture: 2 parts coarsely crushed rhatany root per 10 parts 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.910–0.920; dry residue 4.5–6%; alcohol 64–66% by volume. Internally 1.0–1.5 several times a day as an astringent, and also externally for mouthwash and gum lubrication. Tinctura Rhei amara spirituosa, bitter spirituous rhubarb tincture: 8 parts coarse powder of gentian root, 32 parts coarse powder of rhubarb rhizome, 3 parts coarse powder of serpentary rhizome per 384 parts 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.900–0.908; dry residue 3–4.5%; alcohol 65–68% by volume. Internally 2.0–4.0 several times a day. Laxative, regulating the activity of the stomach and bowels. Tinctura Rhei aquosa, aqueous rhubarb tincture: 10 parts sliced rhubarb rhizome, 1 part borax, 1 part pure potassium carbonate salt, 90 parts boiling water, 9 parts 90° alcohol, 15 parts cinnamon spirituous water. Specific gravity 1.008–1.012; dry residue 4.1–4.5%. Internally 2.0–10.0 several times a day; regulating bowel activity; 15.6–60.0 as a laxative (unreliable). Tinctura Strophanthi, strophanthus tincture: 10 parts coarsely crushed strophanthus seeds and q. s. 70° alcohol. Potency 200–250 action units in 1 g of tincture. Specific gravity 0.893–0.899; dry residue 1.5–2%; alcohol 65–68% by volume. Internally, maximum single dose 0.5, daily 1.5; cardiac. Tinctura Strychni, nux vomica tincture: 10 parts powder of nux vomica seeds and q. s. 70° alcohol. Alkaloids 0.25%; alcohol 67–69% by volume. Internally, maximum single dose 1.0, daily 3.0. Improves digestion, enhances movement of the stomach and bowels as a tonic; also for paresis, paralysis, narcotic poisonings, alcoholism, and cardiac weakness. Tinctura Valerianae, valerian tincture: 1 part coarsely crushed valerian rhizome and root per 5 parts 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.894–0.901; dry residue 2–3%; alcohol 65–67% by volume. Internally 1.0–3.0 several times a day; sedative in nervous disorders, stimulant to cardiac activity. Tinctura Valerianae aetherea, ethereal valerian tincture: 1 part coarsely crushed valerian rhizome and root, 4 parts 90° alcohol, and 2 parts ether. Specific gravity 0.805–0.809; dry residue 1–1.6%; alcohol 64–65% by volume. Internally 1.0–1.5 several times a day. Sedative in nervous disorders, stimulant to cardiac activity. Tinctura Veratri albi, white hellebore tincture: 10 parts powder of white hellebore rhizome and q. s. 70° alcohol. Specific gravity 0.896–0.910; dry residue 1.39–2%. Internally, maximum single dose 1.0, daily 3.0; superfluous and dangerous preparation. The following medicines listed in the USSR Pharmacopoeia may also be classified as tinctures: Acetum aromaticum, aromatic vinegar: 2 parts bergamot oil, 2 parts lemon oil, 2 parts thyme oil, 1 part eucalyptus oil, 1 part rosemary oil, 20 parts acetic ether, 350 parts 90° alcohol, 384 parts diluted acetic acid, 1,728 parts water, 20 parts crushed cinnamon bark, and 20 parts crushed cloves. Specific gravity 0.895–0.988; externally for disinfecting washings, for mouthwash. Guttae Botkini, Botkin drops: 120 parts compound cinchona tincture, 120 parts Hoffmann's drops, 23 parts diluted hydrochloric acid, 15 parts quinine hydrochloride, 2 parts peppermint oil. Specific gravity 0.895–0.910; 7.5–8% dry residue. Internally 1.0–1.5 several times a day. Analgesic in stomach disorders. Guttae Inosemzowi, Inozemtsev drops: 1 part nux vomica extract, 120 parts opium tincture, 480 parts rhubarb tincture, 20 parts castoreum tincture, 240 parts Hoffmann's drops, 240 parts ethereal valerian tincture, 5 parts peppermint oil. Specific gravity 0.871–0.877; 2.5–3% dry residue; internally 0.5–1.0 several times a day. Analgesic in stomach disorders, anti-diarrheal. Due to the temporary cessation of imports of certain types of medicinal raw materials from abroad, formulas containing imported raw materials have been modified by a circular of the People's Commissariat of Health, and certain tinctures (orange, kola nut, etc.) are temporarily not manufactured. Iodine tincture is temporarily prepared with a 5% iodine content. V. Nikolayev.