Effects of Three Different Penetration Enchancers on Transdermal Absorption of the Extract of Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis in Vitro

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of three different penetration enchancers on the transdermal absorption of the extract of Ramulus Uncariae cum uncis in vitro. METHODS Using the extracorporeal back skin of rat as the penetration barrier in a improved Franz diffusion cell, the percutaneous rates of rhynchophylline at various concentrations of azone, bornel and methol were compared by determining the content of rhynchophylline by HPLC. RESULTS The average percutaneous rate of rhynchophylline were 1.00, 0.92, 0.87 μg·cm^-2·h^-1 respectively corresponding to the concentrations of azone, bornel and menthol at 5%, the enhancing rate (ER) were 2.44, 2.24, 1.95, respectively. CONCLUSION Azone, bornel and menthol can enhance transdermal absorption of rhynchophylline (the main active ingredient in Ramulus Uncariae cum uncis), and in study range of concentrations of azone, bornel and methol, the effect of promoting penetration of 5% azone is the best.