Monograph: |
Tartaric Acid
Odourless, colourless or translucent crystals or a white or al-
most white crystalline powder.
Soluble I in 0.8 of water. I in 0.5 of boiling water, I in 3 of
alcohol, I in 250 of ether, and I in 1.7 of methyl alcohol.
Adverse Effects
Strong solutions of tartaric acid are mildly irritant and if in-
gested undiluted may cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea,
abdominal pain and thirst. Cardiovascular collapse or acute
renal failure may follow.
Pharmacokinetics
Tartaric acid is absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract but
Up to 80% of an ingested dose is probably destroyed by mi-
cro-organisms in the lumen of the intestine before absorption
occurs. Absorbed tartaric acid is excreted unchanged in the
urine.
Uses and Administration
Tartaric acid is used in the preparation of effervescent pow-
ders, granules, and tablets, as an ingredient of cooling drinks.
and as a saline purgative. If not neutralized, it must be taken
well diluted. Tartaric acid or metatartaric acid are used in
wine-making as de-acidifying agents to assist in the removal
of excess malic acid by forming an insoluble double salt with
calcium carbonate.
|