Difference Between Procaine Penicillin And Chrystalline Penicillin

Penicillin are a group of antibiotics. They are made up of b-lactam antibiotic join with thiazolidine rings. It is synthesized from penicillium moulds. The molds are penicillium chrysogenum and penicillium rubens.

Penicillin was discovered by the scotissh scientists Alexandra Fleming in 1928. He extracted penicillin by chance discovery from penicillium rubens.

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Penicillin in penicillium mould is a mixture of active ingredients. The principal active compounds are;

1. 2-pentenyl penicillin

2. Benzylpenicillin

3. P-hydroxybenzyl penicillin

4. N-heptyl penicillin

The combination result depends on the species of penicillin mould and nutrient agar used to culture the mould.

There are many types of penicillin named according to their constituents. We have penicillin G, penicillin F, penicillin V, etc. Penicillin G and penicillin V are important clinically. So many other penicillin have been synthesized from them. Most others are not clinically significant. For example, penicillin F is the one Alexandra Fleming discovered. But it is not in use because it is not clinically important.

Penicillin G is unstable in stomach acid hence not given orally. It is given through a parenteral route. On the other hand, penicillin V is given orally because it is stable.

Penicillin G

Procaine and Chrystalline Penicillin

Penicillin G is a parenteral preparation used in the treatment of my bacteria infection. It is obtained from penicillium chrysogenum (peoria strain) when corn steep liquor is used as the culture media.

There are two types of penicillin G. They are the procaine penicillin and the benzathine benzylpenicillin (Chrystalline penicillin). They both come in salts of sodium or potassium.

Procaine Penicillin

Procaine penicillin is also known as procaine benzylpenicillin and penicillin G procaine. Procaine penicillin is made by a combination of procaine and benzylpenicillin. This is done in that one mole part of procaine is combined with one mole part of penicillin. This way the peak activity of penicillin is delayed but the duration of action is prolonged to at least twelve hours.

Procaine is a local anesthetic that belongs to a class of amino ester groups. This drug is used to relieve pain when administering penicillin injection. Procaine is also known as Novocaine. Procaine penicillin is then slowly absorbed and hydrolyzed to benzylpenicillin.

Procaine is hydrolyzed by plasma esterase to non-toxic metabolites PABA and dimethylaminoethanol then slowly eliminated in urine.

It is given intramuscular only. The procaine reduces the pain and liberates the antibiotic in the body. It is dangerous to give Intravenous.

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Procaine penicillin is soluble in 4-4.5 mg/ml of water. It is a white crystalline compound.

Crystalline Penicillin

Crystalline penicillin is also known as Benzathine penicillin and aqueous crystal penicillin G. It is a combination of an antibiotic benzylpenicillin and a salt, benzathine. The combination of one mole of an ammonium salt and two moles of penicillin make the chrystalline penicillin. The antibiotic is responsible for the bacteria killing activity. Benzathine is a diamine used to stabilise penicillin and prolongs its sojourn when injected into tissues.

It can be given through many routes such as intravenous, intramuscular, etc.

Penicillin G benzathine is a white, odourless, chrystaline powder with approximately solubility of 0.2-0.3 mg/ml in water.