Questions:

1.

Give the formula for White Ointment. What are its uses?
Rx
White wax .. 50 gm
White petrolatum..... 950 gm
To make .. 1000gm

Ingredient
White wax

Description
It is the product of bleaching and
purifying yellow wax that is
obtained from the honeycomb of
bee Apis mellifera, Apidae
White petrolatum Is a purified mixture of semisolid
hydrocarbons
obtained
from
petroleum and wholly or nearly
decolorized. It may contain a
suitable stabilizer
*White ointment
It differs from yellow ointment by
substitution
of
white
wax
(bleached and purified yellow
wax) and white petrolatum in the
formula
Reference: General Pharmacy
By: Lilian C. Hernandez and Jose E. Dayco
Page: 282
Remingtons Pharmaceutical Sciences
Page: 1077
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeswax#Uses_as_a_product

Use/s
It serves as a stiffening
agent.

It is used to employ
protection and serves as a
base for ointments and
cerates. It is the active
ingredient
It is used as emollient and
as a vehicle for other
ointments.

2. What is the main difference between White ointment and Yellow ointment?
White ointment differs from yellow ointment by substitution of white wax (bleached
and purified yellow wax) and white petrolatum (purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons
from petroleum that has been wholly or nearly decolorized) in the formula. Wherein yellow
ointment contains yellow wax (purified wax obtained from the honeycomb of the bee, Apis
mellifera) and petrolatum (purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from
petroleum) in the formula.
1 |Zinc Oxide Ointment, USP, BP

References:
Ansels Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems
By: Allen, Popovich, Ansel
Page: 273
3. Give the role of waxes in ointments.
Waxes are pliable, water-repelling substances used particularly in protecting surfaces
and producing polished surfaces. They are usually used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and
polishing industries.
It is used, in ointments, to provide protection and to impart emollient effect/
smoothening effect to the skin. Aside from these characteristics, waxes are also known for its
stiffening and emulsifying properties. Thats why they are used in the production of ointments.
References:
General Pharmacy
By: Lilian C. Hernandez and Jose E Dayco
Pages: 266- 267
Introduction to Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems
By: Howard C. Ansel; Nicholas Popovich and Loyd Allen
Page: 277
Biochemistry
By: H. Stephen Stoker
Pages:127 -129
4. Describe how an ointment is prepared by levigation. When is this applied?
Levigation is commonly used in small-scale preparation of ointments to reduce the
particle size and grittiness of added powders. A mortar and pestle or an ointment tile may be
used. A paste is formed by combining the powder and a small amount of liquid (the levigating
agent) in which the powder is insoluble. The paste is then triturated, reducing the particle size.
The levigated paste may then be added to the ointment base and the mixture made uniform and
smooth by rubbing them together with a spatula on the ointment tile. A figure-8 track is
commonly used to incorporate the materials. Mineral oil and glycerin are commonly used
levigating agents.
Levigation involves simple mixing of base and other components over an ointment slab
using a stainless steel ointment spatula. An ointment slab is a ground-glass plate and two 5 or 6
inches full blade stainless steel spatulas are needed. When there are possibilities of reaction
between the steel spatula and the constituents of an ointment such as incorporation of mercury
salts and iodine, hard rubber or tested plastic spatulas are used. The spatula is held so that it
2 |Zinc Oxide Ointment, USP, BP

acts as a roller passing over any particles in the ointment. A slight twist of the wrist is required
at the end of each stroke in order to reverse the position of the spatula. It is very convenient to
use two spatulas, one for the actual mechanic of rubbing, the other as an instrument to remove
stubborn, adhering particles or accumulating ointments from the manipulating spatula. Slightly
warm the base to soften expendites the incorporation of insoluble powders. Avoid overheating
of emulsified water-containing bases as this will result in water loss which in turn alters the
consistency of the base and increases the percentage of the medicinal substances.
Levigation, together with fusion process, is used in preparation for oleaginous
ointments. Small quantities of powders are incorporated into hydrocarbon bases with the aid of
a levigating agent such as liquid petrolatum, which helps in wetting of powders. The powder
component is mixed with the levigating agent by trituration and is then incorporated into the
base by spatulation. All solid components are milled to finer size and screened before
incorporating into the base to avoid gritty sensation of the final product. Roller mills are used
for producing large quantities of ointments in pharmaceutical industries. Uniform mixing can
be obtained by geometric dilution procedure, which usually involves stepwise dilution of solids
into the ointment base.
References:
General Pharmacy
By: Lilian C. Hernandez and Jose E Dayco
Pages: 266- 267
Introduction to Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems
By: Howard C. Ansel; Nicholas Popovich and Loyd Allen
Page: 280

3 |Zinc Oxide Ointment, USP, BP