DOI: 10.1515/fv-2017-0025 FOLIA VETERINARIA, 61, 3: 32—46, 2017 ORGANIC COLOURING AGENTS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY Šuleková, M.1, Smrčová, M.1, Hudák, A.1 Heželová, M.2, Fedorová, M.3 1Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice 2Faculty of Metallurgy, Institute of Recycling Technologies Technical University in Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice 3Department of Pharmacy and Social Pharmacy University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice Slovakia
[email protected] ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Food dyes are largely used in the process of manufac- In addition to the active ingredients, various additives turing pharmaceutical products. The aim of such a pro- are used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. This group cedure is not only to increase the attractiveness of prod- of compounds includes dyes. A colour additive is any dye, ucts, but also to help patients distinguish between phar- pigment, or other substance that imparts colour to food, maceuticals. Various dyes, especially organic colouring drink or any non-food applications including pharma- agents, may in some cases have a negative impact on the ceuticals. Moreover, a colour additive is also any chemical human body. They are incorporated into pharmaceuti- compound that reacts with another substance and causes cal products including tablets, hard gelatine capsules or the formation of a colour [22, 56]. The pharmaceutical in- soft gelatine capsules, lozenges, syrups, etc. This article dustry employs various inorganic and, especially, organic provides an overview of the most widely used colouring dyes for this purpose.