Astringency

L. alumen, alum) The ancient Greeks and Romans used alum as an astringent and as a mordant in dyeing. In 1761 de Morveau proposed the name alumine for the base in alum, and Lavoisier, in 1787, thought this to be the oxide of a still undiscovered metal. 

Sodium trichloroacetate [650-51-17, C2Cl202Na, is used as a herbicide for various grasses and cattails (2). The free acid has been used as an astringent, antiseptic, and polymerisation catalyst. The esters have antimicrobial activity. The oral toxicity of sodium trichloroacetate is quite low (LD q rats, 5.0 g/kg). Although very corrosive to skin, trichloroacetic acid does not have the skin absorption toxicity found with chloroacetic acid (28). 

The metallic taste (12,19,20) is not ascribed to any special taste buds or mouth area. Along with pungency (the hot taste of peppers), astringency (the puckering taste of alum), and cold taste (the cool effect of menthol), the metallic taste is called a common chemical sense (21). 

Nuts have many uses, both industrial and domestic. For instance, the ivory nut, or tagua, is a source material for the manufacture of buttons and turnery articles. The kola nut supplies ingredients for popular cola beverages in the United States (see Carbonated beverages). StTychnos nux-vomica provides the important medicine and poison, strychnine. The areca or betel nut is chewed by the Indian and Malayan people as a narcotic a slice of the nut is placed in a leaf of the pepper plant Piper betle) together with a pinch of lime the mixture is an acrid, astringent narcotic that dyes the mouth red, blackens and destroys the teeth. The areca nut contains, among other alkaloids, arecoline, an active anthelminthic widely used in veterinary practice for the treatment of tapeworm infections. 

Monobasic aluminum acetate is dispensed as a 7% aqueous solution for the topical treatment of certain dermatological conditions, where a combination of detergent, antiseptic, astringent, and heat-dispersant effects are needed (12). The solution, diluted with 20—40 parts water, is appHed topically to the skin and mucous membranes as a wet dressing (13). Burrow s solution, prepared from aluminum subacetate solution by the addition of a specific amount of acetic acid, is also used as a topical wet dressing. Standards of purity and concentration have been estabHshed for both pharmaceutical aluminum acetate solutions (13). Each 100 mL of aluminum subacetate solution yields 2.30—2.60 g of aluminum oxide and 5.43—6.13 g of acetic acid upon hydrolysis. For the Burow s solution, each 100 mL yields 1.20—1.45 g of aluminum oxide and 4.25—5.12 g of acetic acid. Both solutions may be stabilized to hydrolysis by the addition of boric acid in amounts not to exceed 0.9% and 0.6% for the subacetate and Burow s solutions, respectively (13). 

The word alum is derived from the Latin alumen, which was appHed to several astringent substances, most of which contained aluminum sulfate (20). Unfortunately, the term alum is now used for several different materials. Papermakers alum or simply alum refers to commercial aluminum sulfate. Common alum or ordinary alum usually refers to potash alum which can be written in the form K SO Al2(SO 24H20, or it can refer to ammonium alum, ammonium aluminum sulfate. The term is also appHed to a whole series of crystallised double sulfates [M(l)M (lII)(SO 2 12H20] having the same crystal stmcture as the common alums, in which sodium and other univalent metals may replace the potassium or ammonium, and other metals may replace the alurninum. Even the sulfate radical may be replaced, by selenate, for example. Some examples of alums are cesium alum [7784-17-OJ,... 

Potassium Aluminum Sulfate. Potassium aluminum sulfate [7784-24-9]. KAl(SO 12H20, is a white, astringent crystal known as potassium alum, ordinary alum, or potash alum. Its formula weight is 474.39 mp 92.5 °C sp gr 1.75 and solubiUty 11.4 g per 100 mL H2O at 20°C (8). It is soluble in dilute acid and insoluble in alcohol. It dehydrates at about 200 °C to porous desiccated potassium alum [10043-67-1], KAl(SO dried or burnt alum, which has a formula weight of 258.20. 

The natural moisture of the cocoa bean combined with the heat of roasting cause many chemical reactions other than flavor changes. Some of these reactions remove unpleasant volatile acids and astringent compounds, partially break down sugars, modify tannins and other nonvolatile compounds with a reduction in bitterness, and convert proteins to amino acids that react with sugars to form flavor compounds, particularly pyrazines (4). To date, over 300 different compounds, many of them formed during roasting, have been identified in the chocolate flavor (5). 

As of 1991 in the United States, OTC antiacne preparations may contain only a few active dmgs, for example, sulfur [7704-34-9] resorcinol acetate [102-29-4], resorcinol [108-46-3], salicylic acid [69-72-7], and some combinations (52). OTC anti-acne constituents maybe included in a variety of conventional cosmetic preparations, which then become OTC dmgs. These include lotions, creams, solutions, facial makeups, facial cleansers (including abrasive cleansers), and astringents. Products must contain the specified dmgs at the designated concentrations. Compositions of antiacne products have beenpubhshed (53). 

Astringents are designed to dry the skin, denature skin proteins, and tighten or reduce the size of pore openings on the skin surface. These products can have antimicrobial effects and are frequendy buffered to lower the pH of skin. They are perfumed, hydro-alcohoHc solutions of weak acids, such as tannic acid or potassium alum, and various plant extracts, such as bitch leaf extract. The alcohol is not only a suitable solvent but also helps remove excess sebum and soil from the skin. After-shave lotions generally function as astringents. 

In the United States, some astringents, depending on product claims, are considered OTC dmgs (62). Only three ingredients, aluminum acetate [139-12-8], aluminum sulfate [10043-01-3], and hamameHs [84696-19-5], are considered safe and effective. 

Silver nitrate is astringent and a protein precipitant, which is not medically desirable. Other forms of silver have been used to avoid this problem, including coUoidal silver, silver-protein preparations, and finely divided silver metal called Katadyn silver. 

Salvia is one of the most important genera of the Family Lamiaceae. Several species of salvia ai e used in folk medicine as antiseptics, astringents and spasmolytics [3]. 

Alum Astringent crystalline double sulfate of an alkali. K2SO4AL2 (S04)j 24H2O. Used in the processing of pickles and as a flocking agent. Excess aluminum in the environment can be hazardous. 

Adstringenz, /. astringency. adstringierend, a. astringent. adstrin-gierendes Mittel, astringent. 

Stopf-mittel, n. (Med.) astringent, styptic, -werg, n. oakum. 

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