ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the transdermal characteristics of myrrh essential oil and its percutaneous penetration enhancement for ibuprofen. Methods:The content of ibuprofen was determined by HPLC. Ibuprofen was used as the model drug and mouse skin was used as the permeation barrier in vitro. The transdermal properties of myrrh essential oil and its effect on percutaneous absorption of ibuprofen were investigated using Franz diffusion cells. Results:Without myrrh essential oil or with 1%, 2% and 3% myrrh essential oil, the cumulative transdermal penetration amount in 12h of ibuprofen in vitro was (0. 427 05 ± 0. 069 82), (0. 315 04 ± 0. 032 24), (0.230 50 ±0.031 14) and (0.181 34 ±0.053 70) mg·cm-2, with Jss of(0.031 4 ±0.005 7), (0.020 8 ±0.002 8), (0.017 2 ±0.001 6) and (0.013 9 ±0.003 4) mg·(cm2·h) -1, respectively. Conclusion: Myrrh essential oil shows no transdermal en-hancement for ibuprofen in vitro, to the contrary, it shows inhibitory effect with positive correlation to the concentration.