Examples of Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Ingredient Type Definition Examples

Acidifying Agent Used in liquid preparations to Citric Acid

provide acidic medium for Acetic Acid
product stability Fumaric Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Nitric Acid

Alkalinizing Agent Used in liquid preparations to Ammonia solution

provide alkaline medium for Ammonium carbonate
product stability Diethanolamine
Monoethanolamine
Potassium hydroxide
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium borate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium hydroxide
Trolamine

Adsorbent Agent capable of holding other Powdered cellulose

molecules onto its surface by Activated charcoal
physical or chemical
(chemisorption) means

Aerosol Propellant Agent responsible for developing Carbon dioxide

the pressure within an aerosol Dichlorodifluoromethane
container and expelling the Dichlorotetrafluoroethane
product when the valve is opened Trichloromonofluoromethane

Air Displacement Agent employed to displace air in Nitrogen

a hermetically-sealed container to Carbon dioxide
enhance product stability

Antifungal Preservative Used in liquid and semisolid Butylparaben

preparations to prevent growth of Ethylparaben
fungi. Effectiveness of parabens is Methylparaben
usually enhanced by use in Benzoic Acid
combination Propylparaben
Sodium benzoate
Sodium propionate

Antimicrobial Preservative Used in liquid and semisolid Benzalkonium chloride

preparations to prevent growth of
microorganisms
Antioxidant Used to prevent deterioration of Ascorbic acid
preparations by oxidation Ascorbyl palmitate
Butylated hydroxyanisole
Butylated hydroxytoluene
Hypophosphorous acid
Monothioglycerol
Propyl gallate
Sodium ascorbate
Sodium bisulfite
Sodium formaldehyde
Sulfoxylate
Sodium metabisulfite

Buffering Agent Used to resist change in pH upon Potassium metaphosphate

dilution or addition of acid or Potassium phosphate, monobasic
alkali Sodium acetate
Sodium citrate, anhydrous and
dihydrate

Chelating Agent Substance that forms stable Edetic acid

water-soluble complexes Edetate disodium
(chelaters) with metals; used in
some liquid pharmaceuticals as
stabilizers to complex heavy
metals that might promote
instability. In such use, they are
also called sequestering agents

Colorant Used to impart color to liquid & FD&C Red No. 3

solid (e.g. tablets & capsules) FD&C Red No. 20
preparations FD&C Yellow No. 6
FD&C Blue No. 2
D&C Green No. 5
D&C Orange No. 5
D&C Red No. 8
Caramel
Ferric oxide, red

Clarifying Agent Used as a filtering aid for its Bentonite

adsorbent qualities

Emulsifying Agent Used to promote and maintain Acacia

dispersion of finely subdivided Cetomacrogol
particles of liquid in a vehicle in Cetyl alcohol
which it is immiscible. End Glyceryl monostearate
product may be a liquid emulsion Sorbitan monooleate
or semisolid emulsion (e.g. a Polyoxyethylene 50 stearate
cream)
Encapsulating Agent Used to form thin shells to enclose Gelatin
a drug for ease of administration

Flavorant Used to import a pleasant flavor Anise oil

and often odor to a preparation. Cinnamon oil
In addition to the natural Cocoa
flavorants listed, many synthetic Menthol
ones are used Orange oil
Peppermint oil
Vanillin

Humectant Used to prevent drying of Glycerin

preparations, particularly Propylene glycol
ointments & creams Sorbitol

Levigating Agent Liquid used as an intervening Mineral oil

agent to reduce the particle size of Glycerin
a powder by grinding, usually in a Propylene glycol
mortar

Ointment Base Semisolid vehicle for medicated Lanolin

ointments Hydrophilic ointment
Polyethylene glycol ointment
Petrolatum
Hydrophilic petrolatum
White ointment
Yellow ointment
Rose water ointment

Plasticizer Component of film-coating Diethyl phthalate

solutions to make film more Glycerin
pliable, enhance spread of coat
over tablets, beads, and granules

Solvent Used to dissolve another Alcohol

substance in preparation of a Corn oil
solution; may be aqueous or not Cottonseed oil
(e.g. oleaginous). Cosolvents, such Glycerin
as water & alcohol Isopropyl alcohol
(hydroalcoholic) and water & Mineral oil
glycerin, may be used when Oleic acid
needed. Sterile solvents are used in Peanut oil
certain preparations (e.g. Purified water
injections) Water for injection
Sterile water for injection
Sterile water for irrigation
Stiffening Agent Used to increase thickness or Cetyl alcohol
hardness of a preparation, usually Cetyl esters wax
an ointment Microcrystalline wax
Paraffin
Stearyl alcohol
White wax
Yellow wax

Suppository Base Vehicles for suppositories Cocoa butter

Polyethylene glycols (mixtures)
PEG 3350

Surfactant (Surface Active Agent) Substance that absorb to surfaces Benzalkonium chloride
or interfaces to reduce surface or Nonoxynol 10
interfacial tension. May be used Octoxynol 9
as wetting agents, detergents, or Polysorbate 80
emulsifying agents Sodium lauryl sulfate
Sorbitan monopalmitate

Suspending Agent Viscosity-increasing agent used to Agar

reduce sedimentation rate of Bentonite
particles in a vehicle in which they Carbomer (e.g. Carbopol)
are not soluble; suspension may be Carboxymethylcellulose sodium
formulated for oral, parenteral, Hydroxyethyl cellulose
ophthalmic, topical or other route Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Kaolin
Methylcellulose
Tragacanth
Veegum

Sweetening Agent Used to impart sweetness to a Aspartame

preparation Dextrose
Glycerin
Mannitol
Saccharin sodium
Sorbitol
Sucrose

Tablet Antiadherents Prevent tablet ingredients from Magnesium stearate

sticking to punches and dies
during production

Tablet Binders Substances used to cause adhesion Acacia

of powder particles in tablet Alginic acid
granulations Carboxymethylcellulose sodium
Compressible sugar (e.g. Nu-Tab)
Ethylcellulose
 Gelatin
Liquid glucose
Methylcellulose
Povidone
Pregelatinized starch

Tablet & Capsule Diluent Inert filler to create desired bulk, Dibasic calcium phosphate
flow properties, and compression Kaolin
characteristics of tablets and Lactose
capsules Mannitol
Microcrystalline cellulose
Powdered cellulose
Precipitated calcium carbonate
Sorbitol
Starch

Tablet-coating agent Used to coat a tablet to protect N/A

against decomposition by
atmospheric oxygen or humidity,
to provide a desired release
pattern, to mask taste or odor, or
for aesthetic purposes.

Coating may be
sugar, film, or thick covering
around a tablet.

Sugar-coated tablets generally

start to break up in the stomach.

Film forms a thin cover around a

formed tablet or bead. Unless it is
enteric, film dissolves in
the stomach.

Enteric coating passes through

the stomach to break up in the
intestines. Some water-insoluble
coatings (e.g., ethylcellulose) are
used to slow the release of drug in
the gastrointestinal tract

Sugar Coating N/A Liquid glucose

Sucrose

Film Coating N/A Hydroxyethyl cellulose

Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
 Methylcellulose (e.g. Methocel)
Ethylcellulose (e.g. Ethocel)

Enteric Coating N/A Cellulose acetate phthalate

Shellac (35% in alcohol,
pharmaceutical glaze)

Tablet Direct-Compression Used in direct-compression tablet Dibasic calcium phosphate (e.g.

Excipient formulations Ditab)

Tablet Disintegrant Used in solid forms to promote Alginic acid

disruption of the mass into Polacrilin potassium (e.g.
smaller particles more readily Amberlite)
dispersed or dissolved Sodium alginate
Sodium starch glycolate
Starch

Tablet Glidant Used in tablet and capsule Colloidal silica

formulations to improve flow Cornstarch
properties of the powder mixture Talc

Tablet Lubricant Used in tablet formulations to Calcium stearate

reduce friction during tablet Magnesium stearate
compression Mineral oil
Stearic acid
Zinc stearate

Tablet or Capsule Opaquant Used to render a coating opaque. Titanium dioxide

May be used alone or with a
colorant

Tablet Polishing Agent Used to impart an attractive sheen Carnauba wax

to coated tablets White wax

Tonicity Agent Used to render solution similar in Sodium Chloride

osmotic-dextrose characteristics
to physiologic fluids, for example,
in ophthalmic, parenteral, and
irrigation fluids

Vehicle Carrying agent used in N/A

formulating a variety of liquids
for oral and parenteral
administration

Generally, oral liquids are aqueous

(e.g., syrups) or hydroalcoholic
(e.g., elixirs).
 Solutions for intravenous use are
aqueous, whereas intramuscular
injections may be aqueous or
oleaginous

Flavored, Sweetened N/A Acacia syrup

Aromatic syrup
Aromatic elixir
Cherry syrup
Cocoa syrup
Orange syrup
Syrup

Oleaginous N/A Corn oil

Mineral oil
Peanut oil
Sesame oil

Sterile N/A Bacteriostatic sodium chloride

injection

Viscosity-increasing Agent Used to render preparations more Alginic acid

resistant to flow. Bentonite
Carboner
Used in suspensions to deter Carboxymethyl cellulose
sedimentation, in ophthalmic Sodium
solutions to enhance contact time Methylcellulose
(e.g., methylcellulose), to thicken Povidone
topical creams, etc. Sodium alginate
Tragacanth