Pancreatin

Pancreatin, a preparation from the pancreas gland, from which it received its name. P. contains in active form the three main enzymes of the pancreas gland: trypsin, amylase, and lipase. For preparing P., fresh pancreas glands of pigs are mainly used, which give a preparation of greater activity and lighter color. From the glands of cattle, a less active and darker preparation is obtained. The preparation process in general consists of extracting the crushed glands with water or salt solutions, separating the extract from the tissue mass, precipitating the extract with several volumes of alcohol, and drying the resulting precipitate after washing the fat from it with ether. P. is a yellowish or grayish powder, not completely soluble in water. The suitability of P. is determined by determining its activity. For testing P. for trypsin, the pharmacopoeia of the USA recommends the following method: casein dissolved in a solution of caustic soda of a certain concentration is subjected to digestion, and the completeness of splitting is determined by the absence of turbidity in the solution after adding a mixture of alcohol and acetic acid. The determination of amylase content is carried out by splitting the starch paste by the P. being tested. Lipase is usually not determined. It is important that P. does not contain fat, since the latter, becoming rancid, spoils the preparation. Preparations of P., when prepared, are standardized for their activity. P. is stored, protecting it from the action of light and moisture. P. is used in insufficient external secretion of the pancreas gland. It is recommended to give it in the form of pills coated with keratin, or in keratin capsules, since trypsin is destroyed in the acidic environment of gastric contents. To avoid the destruction of P. in the stomach, a preparation called "pancreon" has been released abroad, which is a combination of P. with tannin and possesses stability with respect to gastric juice, similar to "tannalbin". Pancreon, like P., contains enzymes in active form and differs from it in insolubility in water and weak acids and dark color.