Modern Preservatives of Microbiological Stability (Review)

Abstract

Modern antimicrobial preservatives authorized for use in dosage form technology are reviewed. The nomenclature and various classifications of preservatives according to chemical nature, mechanism and spectrum of antimicrobial action, optimum effective concentrations for antimicrobial activity, and separate factors affecting the activity of antimicrobial preservatives in various dosage forms, e.g., optimum solution pH values and specific adsorbents reducing preservative activity, are presented. Antimicrobial preservatives used widely in pharmaceutical technology, i.e., parabens, sorbic acid and its salts, benzoic acid and its salts, and benzalkonium chloride, are discussed in detail. Ascience-based approach to selecting antimicrobial preservatives is shown to produce the most stable and safest medicines.