Question

A clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic liquid containing medicament, is known as:

• A. Elixir
• B. Syrup
• C. Tincture
• D. Decoction

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

An elixir is a clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic liquid that contains one or more active ingredients or medicaments. Elixirs are usually intended for oral use and are designed to have a pleasant taste. Let's analyze why the term 'elixir' is the correct answer and rule out other options.

1. Elixir: Elixirs are prepared by dissolving the active ingredients in water and alcohol. They are often flavored and sweetened to improve palatability, which makes them suitable for oral administration. The alcoholic component helps in preserving the elixir and enhances the solubility of the ingredients.
2. Syrup: Syrup is an aqueous solution with a high sugar content. It serves as a means to deliver medications in a sweet, viscous form. Unlike elixirs, syrups do not typically contain alcohol. Therefore, syrup is ruled out as they do not fit the description provided in the question.
3. Tincture: A tincture is an alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution of a drug prepared from plant or animal material. Unlike elixirs, tinctures are not sweetened, and the alcohol content is usually higher. Hence, tinctures are not sweetened solutions, eliminating them as a possibility.
4. Decoction: A decoction involves boiling plant material to extract its active ingredients into water. This method does not use alcohol. Decoctions are not clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic solutions and thus do not match the description.

Given the explanation above, an elixir is the only option that matches the description of being a clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic liquid containing medicament. Therefore, the correct answer is Elixir.