Ivermectin is a drug derived from avermectins, a group of compounds produced by the bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. It is widely used as an antiparasitic agent in both humans and animals. Below is an overview of its preparation process:
1. Cultivation of Streptomyces avermitilis
- Isolation: The bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis is grown in a controlled fermentation environment.
- Fermentation medium: The growth medium typically contains nutrients like glucose, soybean meal, and essential salts to support microbial growth and metabolite production.
- Optimal conditions: The fermentation is carried out under specific conditions of pH, temperature (25–28°C), and aeration to maximize the production of avermectins.
2. Extraction of Avermectins
- After fermentation, the culture broth contains the avermectins, which are extracted using organic solvents such as ethyl acetate or methanol.
- The solvents are used to separate the compounds from the microbial biomass and the fermentation medium.
3. Purification of Avermectins
The crude extract is subjected to:
- Liquid-liquid extraction to separate impurities.
- Chromatographic techniques, such as silica gel or reverse-phase chromatography, to isolate specific avermectin derivatives.
4. Chemical Modification to Ivermectin
- The purified avermectins (specifically avermectin B1a and B1b) are chemically modified to produce ivermectin.
- Hydrogenation: Selective hydrogenation of specific functional groups (e.g., double bonds) creates ivermectin from the parent compounds.
- Proportioning: The final product contains about 80% of ivermectin B1a and 20% of ivermectin B1b.
5. Formulation
The synthesized ivermectin is formulated into different dosage forms depending on its intended use:
- Tablets for oral administration (humans).
- Injections for veterinary use.
- Topical formulations like creams or lotions for external use.
6. Quality Control
Rigorous testing ensures the product meets standards for:
- Purity (high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC).
- Potency (bioassays).
- Safety (toxicity studies).
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