PASTES

 Pastes are usually prepared by incorporating solids directly into a

congealed system by levigation with a proportion of base to form paste
like mass.
 Contains high percentage of insoluble solid (usually 50% or more) which
are finely dispersed into a suitable vehicle.
 Pastes adhere well to skin and are benefit in treatment of chronic
lesions.
 Characteristics of Pastes

 Pastes are stiffer than other semisolid dosage forms such as ointments and
creams hence they remain stable at site of application.
 Because of high powder contents pastes are porous; hence, perspiration can
escape.
 They do not interfere with the non-infected areas of the skin.
 These are considerably less greasy when compared to ointments.
 They are mostly applied over moist lesions as they possess good adhesive
property towards the skin.
 Most of the pastes are unsuitable for treating scalp conditions because they
are difficult to remove from the hair.
 Types of pastes
Based on the type of base used in formulation, pastes are classified as follows:
 Fatty Pastes
• These formulation consist of fatty or oleaginous bases.
Eg: Zinc oxide paste.
 Aqueous Gel Pastes
• These are prepared with water miscible bases.
Eg: Sodium hydroxymethyl cellulose paste, Titanium dioxide paste.
 Hydrocolloid Pastes
• These preparations consists of hydrocarbon bases.
Eg: Tooth paste, Zinc oxide gelatin paste.
Medicated Paste Non medicated paste
Formulation
Various types are bases used in preparation of pastes:
⇰ Hydrocarbon Bases
Soft paraffin and liquid paraffin are commonly used bases.

Name of the Active ingredients Base Use

preparation

Compound Zinc Zinc oxide Soft paraffin Eczema, Psoriasis.

Paste B.P.

Compound Zinc & Zinc oxide & Soft paraffin Eczema, Psoriasis.
Salicylic acid Paste Salicylic acid
B.P.

Coal tar paste Coal tar Soft paraffin Eczema

Dithranol paste Dithranol Soft paraffin Ring worm
compound

Aluminium paste Aluminium oxide Liquid paraffin Protectant

B.P.C.
⇰ Water miscible Base
Water miscible bases includes emulsifying ointments and
emulsifying wax used for the preparation of pastes.

Name of the preparation Base Use

Resorcinol & sulfur Paste Emulsifying ointment Treatment of Dandruff
B.P.C.
Zinc & Coal tar Paste Emulsifying wax Eczema
Magnesium sulfate paste Magnesium sulfate-45% Used to treat boils
B.P.C. Phenol in glycerol
⇰ Water soluble Base
Water soluble bases are prepared from mixture of high and low
molecular weight polyethylene glycols.

Name of the preparation Base Use

Water soluble dental Neomycin sulfate Sterilizing infected root
pastes canal
Triamcinolone Dental paste Triamcinolone acetonide in Anti inflammatory
B.P.C. an adhesive paste(sodium
carboxy methyl cellulose,
pectin + gelatin)
Additives used in paste
Ingredients used in toothpaste

Medicated toothpaste active Toxic toothpaste ingredients

ingredients

Potassium citrate Triclosan

Potassium nitrate Sodium lauryl sulphate

Sodium mono fluorophosphate Artificial sweeteners

Triclosan Flouride

Strontium chloride Propylene glycol

Diethanol amine(DEA)
Methods of preparation
 Pastes are prepared by trituration and fusion methods.
 Trituration method is used when the base is liquid or semisolid.
 Fusion method is used when the base is semisolid/solid in nature.

⇰ Trituration method
Compound Zinc Paste is prepared by both fusion and trituration method.
Procedure:
 Zinc oxide and starch powder are passed through sieve No. 180.
 Soft paraffin is melted on a water bath.
 Required amount of powder is taken in a mortar, triturated with little melted base
until smooth and gradually rest of the base is added.
⇰ Fusion method
Zinc and coal tar Paste B.P.C. is prepared by fusion method.

 Method 1
The components are melted in decreasing order of their melting point i.e., higher M.P.
the substance should be melted first.
The medicament is added slowly in the melted ingredients and stirred thoroughly until
the mass cools down.

 Method 2
All the components are taken in subdivided state and melted together.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing involves
 Weighing and mixing
 Filling tubes
 packing
Evaluation Parameters
 Evaluation of pastes are same as ointments
Liquid phase migration
Method
Tooth paste
 Mechanical strength
 Calcium hydroxide based on dental cement
Compressive strength is calculated in Mpa as below
4𝑃
C=
Π𝑑²
P - maximum load applied in Newton
d - diameter of specimen in mm