ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of microemulsion/ethosomes on transdermal absorption properties and efficacy of Huoxue Zhitong Cataplasm. Methods The improved Franz diffusion cells were used for the in-vitro permeation experiment with rat skins as the barriers, which was used to evaluate the transdermal absorption properties. In the erxeriment, the contents of paeonol, eugenol and methyl salicylate were used as markers, and detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography to evaluate the transdermal absorption effects. The anti-inflammatory and analgesia activity were evaluated through the writhing plate experiments. Results The cumulative release rate of paeonol in Huoxue Zhitong Cataplasm, Microemulsion Huoxue Zhitong Cataplasm and Ethosomes Huoxue Zhitong Cataplasm were, in order, 65.30%, 61.30%and 60.20%in 24 h;eugenol were, in order, 51.08%, 54.71% and 55.66% in 24 h; methyl salicylate were, in order, 49.20%, 65.17% and 72.15% in 24 h. Furthermore, Microemulsion Huoxue Zhitong Cataplasm high-dose group and Ethosomes Huoxue Zhitong Cataplasm medium-dose group had good effects on reducing the inflammatory exudate of peritoneal capillary and capillary permeability (P<0.05) in animal models. Conclusion Huoxue Zhitong Cataplasm based on microemulsion/ethosomesnano-technology has good transdermal absorption properties and efficacy.