I, name, take this opportunity to thank our principal, in-charge, biology teacher and lab assistant who have provided us with proper guidance during the completion of our project.
I also thank my parents and group members for their coordination and support
Hyper-acidity is a recurring problem in daily life. In this project work, we briefly discuss the causes and cures of hyper-acidity and experimentally assess the efficiency of a few common natural antacids and commercial antacids.
The results show that the neutralizing power of natural antacids like ginger is comparable to that of commercial antacids.
Gastric Acid is an important digestive fluid secreted in the stomach during the process of digestion. The Gastric acid mainly consists of hydrochloric acid, and a few other salts such as potassium chloride or sodium chloride.
The acid plays a major role in hydrolyzing proteins and polysaccharides, activating several enzymes and protecting the stomach against pathogens.
The typical pH of Gastric Acid is about 3 , and it’s usual concentration is about 0.8 M . An event of hyper-acidity is considerable in case the concentrations rise above 1 M .
Common symptoms of hyper-acidity include heartburn, chest and stomach pains among others. It might also be a result of complications such as Peptic Ulcer or Gastric Cancer .
There are several natural and artificial substances available which could be potentially used to reduce conditions of hyper-acidity.
The antacids are the simplest way to battle acidity. They are simply bases (or contain alkaline anions) which directly neutrilizes the gastric acid. Examples include Alka-Seltzer, Gelusil, etc.
We shall discuss these in farther detail as they are the main focus of our work.
This is a class of drugs that block the action of histamine on parietal cells (the secreting cells) of the stomach. Thus, this drug deals with hyper-acidity by supressing the secretion itself. Two of the common drugs from this category are Ranitidine and Cimetidine.
The Proton Pump Inhibitors are the most potent acid secretion inhibitors. They achieve a similar effect as the antagonists, but in a different way, which is by blocking the gastric “proton pumps” of the gastric parietal cells. An example is omepazole.
Digene is one of the most popular over the counter antacids in India. It was manufactured by Abbott India Limited.
Each tablet contains Dried Aluminum Hydroxide Gel, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydrate, Magnesium Hydroxide, Simethicone and a few artificial coloring and flavoring agents for aesthetics.
The retail price of Digene tablets at the time of the project had been <cost> per <tablet>.
Gelusil is also another popular commercial antacid. It has been in circulation since 1939.
This product also contains Aluminum Hydroxide Gel, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydrate, Magnesium Hydroxide and Simethicone.
The retail price of Gelusil tablets at the time of the project had been <cost> per <tablet>.
Polycrol is a renowned Indian brand of antacid by Piramal Enterprises, which has been in use for 40 years.
For the purpose of this project work, we use the liquid form of the product. It contains Activated dimethicone, Magnesium hydroxide and Aluminium Hydroxide Gel.
The retail price of the Polycrol mixture at the time of the project had been <cost> per <ml>.
Neem (Azadirachta indica) has been known for its medicinal properties for over two millenia in India. The Indian Ayurveda was the first to bring the anthelmintic, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties of Neem into spotlight.
Traditional Indian knowledge, along with some supporting studies tell us that Neem bark extracts have antacid like effects.
Mint (Mentha sp.), commonly known as Pudina, is an important herb of medicinal value. The mint genus constitutes a number of fast-growing species thriving in lakes, rivers or moist patches of land. It is most well known for its application in food and beverages.
Mint leaves could be used as antacids or otherwise cure irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ache or chest pains due to the presence of menthol. Some recent studies support this claim.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale), or its rhizome, is widely used as a spice as well as for medicinal purposes. Ginger is closely related with turmeric and cardamom, all of which are in the same genus.
Due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as Zingerone, Shogaol or Gingerol, ginger behaves as an efficient antacid.
The solution obtained is an solution of .
The solution obtained is an solution of .
For each of the samples, the following is done:
| Antacid | Volume of HCl added | Volume of NaOH required |
|---|---|---|
| Digene | 60 ml | |
| Gelusil | 60 ml | |
| Polycrol | 60 ml | 45 ml |
| Antacid | Volume of HCl added | Volume of NaOH required |
|---|---|---|
| Neem Bark | 60 ml | |
| Mint Leaves | 60 ml | |
| Ginger Rhizome | 60 ml |
The neutralizing capabilities of the antacids are in the following rank order: Digene, Gelusil, Ginger Rhizome, Neem Bark, Mint Leaves.
While commercial antacids are tailor made for the purpose, it is an interesting observation to notice that natural agents are nearly as effective and can be seriously considered for such purposes.