芒硝

English text reference: Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition)

Overview

Mirabilite is the crystalline product of the processing and refining of the mineral mirabilite, which belongs to the mirabilite family of sulfate minerals. It mainly contains hydrated sodium sulfate (Na2SO4•10H2O).

Description

It occurs as prismatic, rectangular or irregular block or granule. It is colorless and transparent or white and translucent. It is brittle and easily broken, with a glassy luster on the fractured surface. It has a slight odor and a salty taste.

Identification

The aqueous solution of the drug exhibits the identification reaction of sodium salts (General rule 0301) and sulfate salts (General rule 0301).

Examination

Iron salt and zinc salt

Take 5g of the sample, dissolve it in 20ml of water, add 2 drops of nitric acid, boil for 5 minutes, titrate with sodium hydroxide test solution, add 1ml of dilute hydrochloric acid, 1ml of potassium ferrocyanide test solution, and sufficient water to make 50ml. Shake well, let stand for 10 minutes, and there should be no turbidity or blue color.

Magnesium salt

Take 2g of the sample, dissolve it in 20ml of water, add 1ml of ammonia test solution and 1ml of disodium hydrogen phosphate test solution, and there should be no turbidity within 5 minutes.

Chloride

Take 0.20g of the sample, carry out the examination according to the law (General Rule 0801), compare it with the control solution made of 7.0ml of standard sodium chloride solution, and it should not be more concentrated (0.035%).

Loss on drying

Take the sample, dry it at 105°C to constant weight, and the loss on drying should be 51.0% to 57.0% (General Rule 0831).

Heavy metals

Take 2.0g of the sample, dissolve it in 2ml of dilute acetic acid solution and sufficient water to make 25ml, carry out the examination according to the law (General Rule 0821, method 1), and the content of heavy metals should not exceed 10mg/kg.

Arsenic salt

Take 0.20g of the sample, dissolve it in 23ml of water, add 5ml of hydrochloric acid, carry out the examination according to the law (General Rule 0822), and the content of arsenic should not exceed 10mg/kg.

Acidity and alkalinity

Take 1.0g of the sample, dissolve it in 20ml of water. Take 10ml, add 2 drops of methyl red indicator, and there should be no red color; take another 10ml, add 5 drops of bromothymol blue indicator, and there should be no blue color.

Assay

Take the sample, dry it at 105°C to constant weight, take about 0.3g, accurately weigh it, dissolve it in 200ml of water, add 1ml of hydrochloric acid, boil with continuous stirring, and slowly add hot barium chloride test solution (about 20ml) until no precipitate is formed. Heat on a water bath for 30 minutes, let stand for 1 hour, filter with ashless filter paper or a Gooch crucible weighed accurately, wash the precipitate with water in portions until the washings no longer show a reaction for chloride, dry, and ignite to constant weight. Multiply by 0.6086 to obtain the weight of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) in the test sample.

Calculated on the dried product, the content of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) should not be less than 99.0%.

Property

Cold.

Flavor

Salty and bitter.

Meridian tropism

Meridian tropism: Stomach and large intestine.

Actions

To promote bowel movement, moisturize dryness, soften hardness, clear heat, and reduce swelling.

Indications

Used for accumulation of excess heat, abdominal distension and pain, dry and hard stool, intestinal abscess and swelling pain; externally used for breast abscess, hemorrhoids, and swelling pain.

Dosage

6-12g.

Administration

Generally not used in decoction. Dissolve in the decoction after it is cooked and take orally. For external use, use an appropriate amount.

Precautions

Caution for pregnant women; avoid using it together with sulfur and Tribulus terrestris.

Storage

Store in airtight containers, below 30°C, and protect from wind and weathering.

芒硝

Text reference: Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition)

Overview

Sodium Sulfate is a crystalline substance purified from a mineral of sulfates of Glauber's salts group, containing mainly hydrated sodium sulfate (Na2SO4•10H2O).

Description

Prismatical, rectangular or irregular masses, and granules. Colourless and transparent, or almost white and translucent. Texture fragile and easily broken, fracture with glassy lustre. Odour, slight; taste, salty.

Identification

The aqueous solution yields the reactions characteristic of sodium salts and sulfates <0301>.

Examination

Iron and Zinc

Dissolve 5 g of the drug in 20 ml of water, add 2 drops of nitric acid, boil for 5 minutes, neutralize with sodium hydroxide TS, then add 1 ml of dilute hydrochloric acid TS, 1 ml of potassium ferrocyanide TS and a quantity of water to 50 ml, mix well. Allow to stand for 10 minutes, no turbidity or blue colour is produced.

Magnesium

Dissolve 2 g of the drug in 20 ml of water, add 1 ml of each of ammonia TS and disodium hydrogen phosphate TS, no turbidity is produced within 5 minutes.

Loss on drying

When dried to constant weight at 105℃, loses 51.0-57.0 per cent of its weight <0831>.

Heavy metals

Dissolve 2.0 g of the drug in 2 ml of dilute acetic acid TS, add a quantity of water to 25 ml, carry out the limit test for heavy metals <0821, method 1>, not more than 10 mg/kg.

Arsenic

Dissolve 0.20 g of the drug in 23 ml of water, add 5 ml of hydrochloric acid, carry out the limit test for arsenic <0822>, not more than 10 mg/kg.

Assay

Dissolve about 0.4 g of the drug, weighed accurately, in 200 ml of water, add 1 ml of hydrochloric acid, boil, and add about 20 ml of hot barium chloride TS with constant stirring until no more precipitate is produced. Heat on a water bath for 30 minutes, stand for 1 hour, filter through an ashless filter paper or a tared sintered glass filter. Wash the precipitate with water for several times until the washings show no reactions characteristic of chloride. Dry and ignite the precipitate to constant weight. Weigh accurately, multiply the weight by 0.6086 to obtain the content of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4).

Property and Flavor

Cold; salty and bitter. Stomach and large intestine meridians.

Actions and Indications

To purge and relax the bowels, moisten dryness, soften hardness, clear fire, and disperse swelling. Accumulation and stagnation of excess heat, distention, pain and fullness in the abdomen, dry stool binds, intestinal abscess with swelling and pain. Topical application: Acute mastitis and painful swelling hemorrhoids.

Administration and dosage

6-12 g, added to the prepared, decoction, usually not decocted. Appropriate amount for topical application.

Precautions and Warnings

Used with caution during pregnancy. Incompatible with Sulfur and Sparganii Rhizoma.

Storage

Preserve in a well closed container, store at a temperature below 30℃, and protect from efflorescing.