Definition: coloring agents (or) colorants are a substance that is added (or) applied in order to change the color of a material (or) surface. Also enhancing the appearance.
Also read: Different types of metals are used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Types of coloring agents used in pharmaceutical formulation
1. Organic dyes and their lakes: Dyes are synthetic, chemical compounds that exhibit their coloring power, when dissolved in a solvent. Eg: Erythrosine, Tartrazine, patent blue V, etc.
Lakes are defined by the FDA as the aluminum salts of FD & C water-soluble
2. Inorganic (or) Mineral colors: Stability towards light is an important characteristic of this mineral, some of which have a useful pacifying capacity.
Eg: Titanium dioxide
3. Natural colors (or) Vegetable and animal colors: They are available naturally, and not stable to light as the other group of colors. From these natural colors, the main advantage is wide acceptability.
Eg: Caramel, Curcumin, etc.
Uses of coloring agents used in pharmaceutical formulation
- Used to improve the appearance of the pharmaceutical dosage form.
- Maintain variants for the same batch product.
- Replace color when processing it may lose.
- Make different colors for the uncolored product.
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