Study on Percutaneous Permeation of Ethosomes Gel of Cinnamon Extract

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of HPMC on the penetration rate of Cinnamon Cortex extract and the synergistic effect of cinnamon cortex extract ethosome gel and the chemical enhancers on enhancement of Cinnamon Cortex extract permeation. METHODS Cinnamon Cortex extract ethosomes gel was prepared by injection method and admixed with HPMC gel. With the skin of SD male rats, the penetration experiments in vitro were performed on modified Franz diffusion cells. The amount of penetrated cinnamon cortex extract was determined by HPLC. The steady penetration rate was calculated. RESULTS The penetration rate shows 2%HPMC>3%HPMC>4%HPMC>5%HPMC≈ethosome. 2% Azone-propanediol(1∶1) pretreated in ethosomal form dramatically enhanced the skin permeation of Cinnamon Cortex extract in vitro compared with ethosomes(4.38±0.47)μg·h^-1·cm^-2 vs (1.53±0.31)μg·h^-1·cm^-2. CONCLUSION Ethosome gel could be developed as the new dosage form in cinnamon cortex extract transdermal delivery.