AROMATIC WATERS

AROMATIC WATERS

Definition:

Aromatic waters are clear, saturated solutions of aromatic substances (may be volatile oils or volatile solids) in water. Their flavors and taste are similar to the corresponding aromatic substances used.

Use:

(i)       They are mainly used as the vehicle for oral liquid preparations due to their flavoring properties. E.g. Peppermint Water  IP.

(ii)     Some aromatic waters have preservative action, hence are used as menstruum to extract crude drugs. E.g. Chloroform Water IP.

(iii)    Some aromatic waters have mild therapeutic action. E.g. Camphor Water IP has carminative action, Anise Water has carminative and mild expectorant action.

Methods of Preparations

(a)     Solution method

(i)             The volatile oil is shaken with 500 times its volume of Purified Water IP.

(ii)           The mixture is shaken for a period of 30 minutes.

(iii)          The mixture is set aside for 12 hours or overnight.

(iv)         Filtered.

(b)     Using distributing agents

(i)             The volatile oil is triturated with a sufficient quantity of powdered talc or kieselghur, or pulped filter paper in a mortar.

(ii)           Purified Water IP 500 times the volume of oil is taken and mixed.

(iii)          The solution is filtered.

N.B. Talc, kieselghur, pulp of filter paper are called distributing agents. The volatile oils get adsorbed on the particle surface and a large surface area helps in quick dissolution of the oil into water.

(c)     Dilution from cnocentrated preparations

(i)             A concentrated aromatic water is prepared as per the formula given in the pharmacopoeia.

(ii)           One ml of concentrated aromatic water is diluted with 39 ml of Purified Water IP and mixed.

Examples of various Aromatic Waters

Name of Aromatic Water	Name of Concentrated Aromatic Water	Dilution		Use
		Conc. Arom. Water	Purified Water
Anise Water	Concentrated Anise Water	1ml	39ml	Flavor, Carminative, Mild expectorant
Camphor Water	Concentrated Camphor Water	1ml	39ml	Flavor, Carminative, Mild expectorant
Caraway Water	Concentrated Caraway Water	1ml	39ml	Flavor, Carminative
Chloroform Water	Chloroform Water Double Strength (DS)	1ml	39ml	Preservative, Flavor
Cinnamon Water	Concentrated Cinnamon Water	1ml	39ml	Flavor, Carminative
Dil Water	Concentrated Dil Water	1ml	39ml	Flavor, Carminative (particularly for infants in gripe water)
Peppermint Water	Concentrated Peppermint Water	1ml	39ml	Flavor, Carminative, Weak Preservative

Formulae of different aromatic waters available in IP 1966

Name of the Aromatic water	Formula	Method of preparation
Chloroform Water IP66	Chloroform 2.5 ml Purified water upto 1000ml	Solution method.
Camphor Water IP66	Camphor 1gm Alcohol (90%v/v) Purified Water 1000ml	Camphor is dissolved in alcohol and the alcoholic solution is added to purified water drop-wise. The mixture is shaken well. N.B. Water should not be added to the alcoholic solution.
Concentrated Peppermint Water BPC	Peppermint oil 20ml Alcohol (90%v/v) 600ml Purified Water upto 1000ml	Peppermint oil is dissolved in alcohol. Purified water is added in small amount to the alcoholic solution and shaken vigorously. Suitable amount of talc is dispersed in the solution to adsorb the excess oils. Finally the solution is filtered.