Leaching
Leaching (Medicine)
Leaching (pronounced: /ˈliːtʃɪŋ/) is a process in medicine and pharmacology where a solute is removed from a solid via a liquid extraction. This process is often used in the preparation of pharmaceutical products.
Etymology
The term "leaching" originates from the Old English word "leccan", meaning to moisten and to water. In the context of medicine, it refers to the process of extracting, often through the use of a solvent.
Process
In the leaching process, a solute (typically a drug or active pharmaceutical ingredient) is extracted from a solid by a liquid solvent. This is achieved by the solvent dissolving the solute, thus separating it from the solid. The resulting solution can then be further processed to isolate the solute.
Applications
Leaching is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry to extract active ingredients from plant materials, such as herbs and medicinal plants. It is also used in the production of certain types of drug delivery systems, such as transdermal patches.
Related Terms
- Extraction: The process of separating a substance from a mixture.
- Solvent: A substance that can dissolve other substances.
- Solute: The substance that is dissolved in a solvent.
- Pharmacognosy: The study of medicinal drugs derived from plants or other natural sources.
- Herbal medicine: The use of plants for medicinal purposes.
- Drug delivery: The method by which therapeutic substances are delivered to the body.
- Transdermal patch: A method of delivering medication through the skin.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Leaching
- Wikipedia's article - Leaching
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