ESSENTIAL OILS CONTENT DETERMINATION IN EUCALYPTUS TABLETS AND PASTILLES TO ESTABLISH THEIR MAINTENANCE DURING THE STORAGE PERIOD

Abstract

The pharmaceutical company “Neopharmi” Ltd manufactures Eucalyptus tablets and pastilles. They have antibacterial properties and are widely used for treatment of upper respiratory system infections. Their expiry date consists of 2 years  in the regular storage conditions. In the both dosage forms the active substances are essential oils, extracted from Eucalyptus leaves. Essential oils are easily violate substances and migrate from pharmaceutical dosage forms during the storage.  Based on the above mentioned, the aim of the research was to determine essential oils content maintenance in the Eucalyptus tablets and pastilles during the storage period, established by the normative documents. Tablets and pastilles, containing equal Eucalyptus essential oils, were selected for the study. In the selected samples essential oils’ content was determined by the chromatographymassspectrometry analysis. Also, tablets and pastilles’ surface was studied by the scanning electron microscope. The study results revealed  that tablets have a porous structure, and pastilles have small gaps and inclusive pores; essential oils migration takes place during the tablets storage, while pastilles keep them during the whole storage period.