There are many types of medicines. And one of the widest is the group of galenic medicines. The drugs of this variety are distinguished by their effectiveness and relative safety in terms of side effects.
Definition
They call galenical those preparations that were obtained from plant (roots, green mass, flowers, seeds) or animal raw materials by special processing in order to obtain an active principle and get rid of unnecessary ballast substances. In most cases, the technology of extraction from the feedstock using agents such as alcohol, water or ether is used to make such products. The use of drugs of this group is allowed mainly only orally. Some of them may be intended for external use.
In addition to galenic drugs, the modern pharmaceutical industry also produces newgalenic medicines. In the manufacture of such products, special, very complex technologies are used that make it possible to obtain an active principle from plant and animal raw materials in almost pure form - without any additional unnecessary substances. Drugs of this group can be used including for injection.
A bit of history
Currently, mainly chemical preparations are used to treat people. Galenic and newgalenic drugs, however, have recently become increasingly popular. The medicines of this variety were named in honor of the ancient Roman philosopher and physician Galen. It was this naturalist who was the first to guess that the medicinal herbs themselves do not have beneficial effects on the human body, but only certain substances that make up their composition. K. Galen, among other things, belongs to the scientific work on such medicines, which until now is the basis of a whole direction of the drug market.
This ancient doctor made preparations from plants based on water. However, somewhat later, doctors noticed that not all useful substances can be dissolved in it. Therefore, to highlight the active principle, ancient pharmacists began to use alcohol as well.
Classification
One of the features of galenic agents is their diversity in composition and pharmacological action. Therefore, it is rather difficult to classify such medicines.
In most cases, in the specialized literature, galenic preparations are divided into only two large groups - extracts, solutions, and mixtures. The first group of drugs includes, for example, tinctures, compounds extracted from the secretory glands, glycosides, vitamins, alkaloids. The group of solutions and mixtures includes:
- syrups;
- preparations obtained by dissolving dry extracts;
- aromatic waters;
- soap and cresol soap products.
Galenic drugs can also be classified according to the feedstock. In this regard, distinguish:
- organ preparations (obtained from animal raw materials);
- herbal remedies;
- complex complex pharmaceutical drugs.
The phytopreparation group, in turn, includes:
- extracts;
- tinctures;
- extract concentrates;
- oil extracts;
- Novogalenovye funds;
- preparations from fresh plants (mainly extracts and juices).
What is an extract?
It is these drugs that are the main and most common group of herbal remedies. Extracts of highly concentrated extracts from medicinal plants are extracts. The consistency of such preparations can be either liquid or solid or viscous. A drug can be called an extract only if the concentration of the active active substance in it is equal to or greater than the corresponding indicator in the medicinal plant itself.
Liquid preparations of this group are alcoholic extracts obtained in a 1: 1 ratio. The advantages of such drugs are the same ratio between the active substances and ease of measurement. The disadvantage of liquid extracts is generally considered only a high content of related substances.
The thick preparations of this variety are concentrated alcoholic extracts or ether extracts. Moisture in viscous masses should contain no more than 25%, and the remainder by weight - at least 70%.
Dry solid extracts are mainly called powders or spongy porous masses. Moisture in such preparations should contain no more than 5%, and dry residue - not less than 95%. In some cases, various excipients 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 thick extracts is that under certain conditions they can dry out or, conversely, damp and deteriorate.
In addition to thick, solid and liquid galenic preparations, modern industry also produces:
- extracts-concentrates used for the manufacture of infusions and decoctions;
- oil extracts.
Methods for producing extracts
These most common galenic preparations can be made using two main technologies:
- by static extraction;
- by dynamic.
In the first case, the raw materials are periodically poured with extractant. Then they defend it for some time. The dynamic method of obtaining the drug involves either the continuous movement of the extractant, or its constant change.
Most often, a static method is used to obtain galenic preparations. Rooted in this simple technology goes back centuries. And in ancient Rome, and today, for the manufacture of extracts is often used, for example, such a simple technique as maceration. Also, drugs of this group can be obtained:
- by turboextraction;
- using ultrasound;
- in a filtering centrifuge;
- by means of high voltage pulses.
There is also such a static method for the manufacture of galenic preparations 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.
Production of galenic tinctures
It is also a fairly common group of natural medicines. Tinctures are liquid alcoholic extracts obtained from dried or fresh animal or plant materials.
As an extractant for such preparations, usually hydroalcoholic solutions with a concentration of from 30 to 95% are used. Tinctures are prepared most often by percolation. This technology includes several main stages:
- soaking raw materials;
- infusion;
- filtering the extractant through a layer of raw materials.
Benefits of using
Thus, galenic preparations are known to mankind, thus, for more than 2 thousand years. At one time, with the advent of chemotherapeutic drugs, they had 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 begun production of medicines of this new generation group.
The characteristic of galenic preparations allows their use by people with almost any characteristics of the body. The undoubted advantages of such drugs include:
- Naturalness. In the manufacture of drugs of this group, only natural raw materials are used. Therefore, such drugs are relatively safe in terms of side effects.
- The possibility of prolonged use. The active substances of such drugs participate in the processes of the human body as organically as possible.
- Low allergenicity and toxicity.
- Easy digestibility by the human body.
In the manufacture of galenical and novogalenny drugs are much simpler than chemotherapeutic. And therefore, their production is considered economically viable. In addition, the material itself, used for the manufacture of such medicines, is reproducible.
What determines the therapeutic efficacy of drugs
The active substance in such drugs is usually not the same as in chemotherapeutic ones. After all, plants contain a number of components useful for the human body, ranging from enzymes and vitamins to proteins and volatile. In the processing of raw materials, all these substances are almost completely transferred to the extract. Therefore, galenical drugs on the human body do not have a highly specialized effect, but a complex one.
Galenic preparations: list of the most popular
The modern pharmacological industry produces a variety of drugs in this group. For example, galenic preparations 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, boils.
- Tincture of calendula. Used to treat wounds, against acne and inflammation.
- Ginseng tincture. It is used for neurasthenia, asthenia, and diabetes.
- Echinacea extract. Used to strengthen immunity. It can be used, for example, with flu, colds, tonsillitis.
The most popular medicine
These are the most common galenic preparations. The examples above are very popular among consumers. You can buy them at the pharmacy of almost any, even the smallest settlement. However, the most famous galenic drug is probably still valerian extract. This medicine has a sedative and antispasmodic effect on patients.