Pharmacist Blog about what I encounter and find useful/interesting

Anti-dandruff  Dandruff What is dandruff? Also called "roos" in dutch, are dead skin cells of the scalp, which are formed by a pathological process, caused by an acceleration of keratinization (also known as hyperkeratosis). These dead cells will stick to eachother, together with tallow these compounds of cells will form to the dandruff as we know it. In some cases, due to the tallow, these 'flakes' can look yellowy, vivacious. Most common cause is just a dry skin type, and by a yeast, living on the human skin, named Pityrosporum ovale (now known as  Malassezia globosa ). The exact mechanism how the yeast produces more dandruff is not fully known, but probably it's caused by a metabolisation of triglycerides into oleic acid. Fact is, reduce the yeast in population and dandruff will reduce significantly. N.B.: it has been proven that the colonization of the yeast is almost the double of normal population on people with more dandruff than other people. ...

Silverfingers  A week ago, we were working in the laboratory with bromhexine hydrochloride. Identification test on chlorides was performed according to the European Pharmacopoeia. This test includes the use of silver nitrate (AgNO3). Silver nitrate will form a white precipitation with chlorides if chlorides are present in the molecule (here: under the form of hydrochloride, HCl). AgNO3 + Cl- ---> AgCl  ↓  As a side note: the test is then proceeded washing the precipitation with water, and then adding ammonia. Ammonia will dissolve AgCl. Luckily for us, the test was positive. But, after the laboratory was finished, the next day I noticed grey / black small stains on my fingers. In the theory lessons, we've always seen that silver ions oxidize very easily forming a black/grey precipitation, metallic silver. Thus working with silver ions should be done in absence of light, which could catalyze the oxidation reaction. Ag+ --> Ag ↓ What happened was ...

These are the last pictures. Part 1:  HERE Part 2:  HERE Part 3:  HERE

Part 1:  HERE Part 2:  HERE

Part 2 of the series, looking at a meadowsweet powder under the microscope. Part 1:  HERE

We acquired some meadowsweet powder and put it under a microscope, following the standard procedure of the European Pharmacopeia (using some droplets of a chloralhydrate solution (80 g in 20 mL)), heating followed by cooling, to minimize the crystallization process of chloralhydrate. Namely a phase contrast microscope.  What we saw was a lot of irrecognisable structures, cells, celldebris, trichoma's (hairs), stoma, ..., but fascinating nonetheless.

Structure of meprobamate (source: Wikipedia) Meprobamate is an amide derived from carbamic acid. More specifically, from a dicarbamate of a diol in this case. Carbamic acid: NH2COOH. It does not exist on its own, it automatically splits into NH3 and CO2. The two clear amide bonds are indicated with the red circles. Full name of meprobamate is: 2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediolcarbamate. Properties It is a white crystalic powder or forms colourless crystals. It tastes quite bitter, acrid even. It is sparingly soluble in water at a temperature of 25 °C, a little but more soluble at a higher temperature of 50 °C and it's good soluble in alcohol. How to identify meprobamate - Specific melting point of 104-108 °C - Can look at the IR (infrared) spectrum - Adding acetic acid anhydride and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) will form a precipitate with a very characteristic melting point of 124-128 °C = N,N-diacetylderivate is formed out of the acid reaction. - Adding an alcoholi...