Abstract

*Kasi Ravindra Reddy Kamireddy

*Kasi Ravindra Reddy Kamireddy

ABSTRACT

Pharmacists have been looking for a breakthrough in preservatives preparation for several decades but they have attained a effective results in late 1990’s only. Preservatives are substances that commonly added to various foods and pharmaceutical products in order to prolong their shelf life. The addition of preservatives to such products, especially to those that have higher water content, is essential for avoiding alteration and degradation by microorganisms during storage. Preservatives prolong the shelf-life of pharmaceutical products by preventing their spoilage. Anti-oxidants such as butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), and propyl gallate slow or stop the breakdown of fats and oils. However their excessive usage can also lead to carcinogenic properties in whoever administered them as additives. Most of pharmaceutical industries are using preservatives more than safe concentration to increase shelf life of the drug. So, there is a need for transparency in concentration of additives used in pharmaceutical preparations. Following transparency will not allow companies to go beyond safe concentration and also patients administering them can restrain themselves to safer concentration intake.

Keywords: Butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA).