A demulcent is a mucilaginous or oleaginous preparation that forms a soothing protective film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane. However, they generally help for less than 30 minutes.
Demulcents are sometimes referred to as mucoprotective agents. Demulcents such as pectin, glycerin, honey, and syrup are common ingredients in cough mixtures and cough drops.
Examples
Natural demulcents include slippery elm, pectin, licorice-root and marsh-mallow.
Synthetic demulcents include methylcellulose, propylene glycol, and glycerin.
Further reading
Tripathi, K. D. (31 October 2018). Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, 8th Edition. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. ISBN 978-93-5270-499-6. OCLC 1050280101.
External links
Look up demulcent in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.- Media related to Demulcents at Wikimedia Commons
References
"Definition of DEMULCENT". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2022-02-19. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demulcent ↩
Mandel, I. D. (1987). "The Functions of Saliva". Journal of Dental Research. 66 (2 suppl): 623–627. doi:10.1177/00220345870660S203. ISSN 0022-0345. PMID 3497964. S2CID 23498530. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Frye, R; Bailey, J; Blevins, AE (May 2011). "Clinical inquiries. Which treatments provide the most relief for pharyngitis pain?". The Journal of Family Practice. 60 (5): 293–4. PMID 21544279. /wiki/PMID_(identifier) ↩
Boyd, Eldon M. (1952). "Cough medication and antihistaminic drugs". Can Med Assoc J. 67 (4): 289–92. PMC 1822606. PMID 13009543. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1822606 ↩