Petrolatum liquid

This term refers to highly refined lubricating oils for which dearomatization, in particular, has been pushed to the extreme. These products are sometimes designated by the expression liquid petrolatum . 

Lubricant laxatives work by coating the stool, which allows it to be expelled more easily. The oily film covering the stool also keeps the stool from losing its water to intestinal reabsorption processes. Mineral oil (liquid petrolatum) is a non-prescription heavy oil that should be used with caution, if at all, since it may be aspirated into the lungs and cause lipoid pneumonia. This is of particular concern in the young or the elderly. 

Experiments with rats given oral doses of tritiated food-grade mineral oil provide supporting evidence that the absorption of hydrocarbons in mineral oils is limited. Five hours after dosing with 0.66 mL/kg of tritiated mineral oil ("liquid petrolatum U.S.P."), -75% of the administered radioactivity remained in the alimentary tract, and only 3% of the administered radioactivity was accounted for by radioactivity in other parts of the rat carcass (Ebert et al. 1966). About 80% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in feces during the first 2 days after treatment, and over 90% of the radioactivity in the feces was in the form of mineral oil. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that ingested mineral oil was poorly absorbed. Neither biliary excretion nor enterohepatic circulation of mineral oils was measured in this study, and thus, any quantitative estimates of the extent of absorption based on these data should be viewed as tentative. 

Experiments with monkeys given intramuscular injections of a mineral oil emulsion with [l-14C] -hexa-decane tracer provide data illustrating that absorbed C-16 hydrocarbon (a major component of liquid petrolatum) is slowly metabolized to various classes of lipids (Bollinger 1970). Two days after injection, substantial portions of the radioactivity recovered in liver (30%), fat (42%), kidney (74%), spleen (81%), and ovary (90%) were unmetabolized -hexadecane. The remainder of the radioactivity was found as phospholipids, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and sterol esters. Essentially no radioactivity was found in the water-soluble or residue fractions. One or three months after injection, radioactivity still was detected only in the fat-soluble fractions of the various organs, but 80-98% of the detected radioactivity was found in non-hydrocarbon lipids. 

Experiments with rats given oral or intraperitoneal doses of tritiated mineral oil (Liquid Petrolatum USP) indicate that orally administered hydrocarbons in mineral oil are predominately excreted rapidly, unchanged, and unabsorbed in the feces and that absorbed mineral oil is slowly excreted in the feces (presumably via biliary excretion) (Ebert et al. 1966). 

Oils have been used as vehicles for several topical eyedrop products that are extremely sensitive to moisture. Tetracycline HC1 is an antibiotic that is stable for only a few days in aqueous solution. It is supplied as a 1% sterile suspension with Plastibase 50W and light liquid petrolatum. White petrolatum and its combination with liquid petrolatum to obtain a proper consistency is routinely used as the vehicle for ophthalmic ointments. 

Menthol, camphor, or similar substances can be mixed to form a eutectic mixture, which can be absorbed onto wool fat (anhydrous lanolin), and then incorporated into the intended base. If such ingredients are not provided as mixtures, they can be dissolved in warm liquid petrolatum or vegetable oil before being incorporated into the base. 

If the substance has been dosed using a vehicle, the water solubility of the vehicle and the vehicle/water partition coefficient of the substance may affect the rate of uptake. Compounds delivered in aqueous media are likely to be absorbed more rapidly than those delivered in oils, and compounds delivered in oils that can be emulsified and digested, e.g., com oil or arachis oil are likely to be absorbed to a greater degree than those delivered in nondigestible mineral oil (liquid petrolatum). 

Synonym Liquid Hydrogen Liquid Impure Camphor Liquid Nitrogen Liquid Nitrogen Dioxide Liquid Oxygen Liquid Petrolatum Liquified Phenol Litharge... 

OILS, MISCELLANEOUS MINERAL Liquid petrolatum, White oil NL 0 1 0 ... 

Prednisolone acetate sulfacetamide sodium Blephamide Liquid petrolatum, polyethylene... 

Dexamethasone tobramycin Tobradex Mineral oil USP (liquid petrolatum), emulsifying wax, white petrolatum, propylene glycol... 

Emollient cathartics Liquid petrolatum Vegetable oils... 

Ephedrine occurs in white, rosette, or needle crystals, or as an unctuous mass. It is soluble in water, alcohol, chloroform, ether, and in liquid petrolatum, the latter solution being turbid if the ephedrine is not dry. Ephedrine melts between 34 and 40°C, depending upon the amount of water it contains it contains not more than 0.1% of ash its solutions are alkaline to litmus it readily forms salts with acids and it responds to the usual tests for alkaloids. Ephedrine excites the sympathetic nervous system, depressing smooth and cardiac muscle action, and produces effects similar to those of epinephrine. It produces a rather long-lasting rise of blood pressure and mydriasis and diminishes hyperemia. The alkaloid may be used in 0.5 to 2% oil spray. 

In contrast, gastrointestinal absorption was impeded by an interaction with physiologically inert liquid petrolatum (a cathartic) orally administered to dogs (Atkinson 1921). Adverse systemic effects were completely prevented or delayed. 

Apparently white phosphorus preferentially dissolves in liquid petrolatum, which is itself not digested, and therefore passes through the gastrointestinal tract. 

Hydrocarbon bases are made of oleaginous materials. They provide emollient and protective properties and remain in the skin for prolonged periods. It is difficult to incorporate aqueous phases into hydrocarbon bases. However, powders can be incorporated into these bases with the aid of liquid petrolatum. Removal of hydrocarbon bases from the skin is difficult due to their oily nature. Petrolatum USP, white petrolatum USP, yellow ointment USP, and white ointment USP are examples of hydrocarbon bases. 

Selection of an appropriate base for an ointment or cream formulation depends on the type of activity desired (e.g., topical or percutaneous absorption), compatibility with other components, physicochemical and microbial stability of the product, ease of manufacture, pourability and spreadability of the formulation, duration of contact, chances of hypersensitivity reactions, and ease of washing from the site of application. In addition, bases that are used in ophthalmic preparations should be nonirritating and should soften at body temperatures. White petrolatum and liquid petrolatum are generally used in ophthalmic preparations. Table 1 summarizes... 

Petroxolins Fluid preparations for external use with a base of liquid petrolatum and ammonium ole-ate. The preparations became official in the 6th edition of the National Formulary (1936). 

Avatech-, Drakeol heavy mineral oil heavy liquid petrolatum liquid petrolatum paraffin oil Sirius-, white mineral oil. 

J he fourth oxygen atom is present as an alcoholic hydroxyl group, the IR-spectrum showing a band (in liquid petrolatum) at 3.1 /x. It forms an acetate with IR-bands (CHCI3) at 5.8 and 8.0 p,. Since the UV-spectrum of the alkaloid is not changed by addition of alkali, the hydroxyl group is not phenolic. 

Synonym(s) Paraffin oils, Heavy mineral oil, Light mineral oil, Liquid paraffin, Aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons, Liquid Vaseline, Paraffins, Paroleine, Liquid Petrolatum, White Mineral Oil, White Oils RTECS 1995 ATSDR 1997b... 

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