• British Pharmacopoeia Volume III
  • Formulated Preparations: Specific Monographs

Salicylic Acid Cream
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General Notices

note: Salicylic Acid Cream is not currently licensed in the United Kingdom.

Action and use

Keratolytic.

Definition

Salicylic Acid Cream contains Salicylic Acid in Aqueous Cream.

The cream complies with the requirements stated under Topical Semi-solid Preparations, the requirements stated under Unlicensed Medicines and with the following requirements.

Content of salicylic acid, C7H6O3

95.0 to 105.0% of the stated amount.

Identification

Shake 1 g with 10 mL of water, filter and add to the filtrate iron(iii) chloride solution R1; an intense reddish violet colour is produced which persists on the addition of 6m acetic acid. Add 2m hydrochloric acid; the colour disappears and a white, crystalline precipitate is produced.

Assay

Dissolve a quantity of the cream containing 0.25 g of Salicylic Acid in a mixture of 20 mL of ethanol (96%), previously neutralised to phenol red solution, and 20 mL of ether and titrate with 0.1m sodium hydroxide VS using phenol red solution as indicator. Each mL of 0.1m sodium hydroxide VS is equivalent to 13.81 mg of C7H6O3.