Abstract

Effect of nanostructured lipid carriers and penetration enhancer for delivering Curcuma comosa extract into the skin.

Jarasdow Sisajja

Chalisa Chieochansin

Damrongsak Jinarat

Wandee Rungseevijitprapa 

nanostructured lipid carriers, Curcuma comosa, penetration enhancer

Introduction: Curcuma comosa Roxb. is a medicinal plant popularly used for the treatment of uterine bleeding and other female symptoms. According to its estrogenic activity, there have been several studies to investigate the use of Curcuma comosa topically in order to avoid the first pass metabolism and its adverse effect. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) is an interesting delivery system that are biocompatible and can facilitate skin absorption of many actives. The objective of this research was to investigate skin permeation of Curcuma comosa extract loaded NLCs with and without chemical penetration enhancer. Methods: NLCs and NLCs that contains penetration enhancer were prepared by hot homogenization by using compritol, oleic acid, Curcuma comosa extract and penetration enhancer (Limonene) as lipid phase and poloxamer and penetration enhancer (N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone) are the composition of water phase. Mean particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), Zeta potential (ZP) were measured using Zetasizer. The NLCs was labeled with 0.0025% fluorescein isothiocyanate and skin permeation through porcine’s ear skin was observed under confocal LSM 700 Inverted Microscope. Results: Mean particle size of the prepared NLCs was in the range of 73-80 nanometer with PDI not more than 0.3. And ZP is negative below -30 mV. Approximately 80-100% of the NLCs could permeate through the porcine skin to the dermis layer with time dependent manner. Surprisingly, NLCs that contains chemical penetration enhancer showed significantly decrease in the amount of active ingredients in the stratum corneum. Conclusion: Factors affected the skin permeation of the NLCs containing Curcuma comosa extract  were incubation time and the lipophilicity of chemical enhancer.