ABSTRACT
Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the in vitro percutaneous penetration and provide the experimental basis of in vitro kinetics for new drug development of Jinhuang Gel. Methods: The skin penetration of Jinhuang Gel was investigated through in vitro excised rat skin using the improved Franz diffusion cell. HPLC fingerprint of receptive solution and skin retention was established and analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). The common peaks of HPLC fingerprint between Jinhuang Gel and Jinhuang Ointment were selected and each area was calculated to obtain the PCA biplot. Paeoniflorin as a representative of common peaks was used to investigate the in vitro permeation kinetics. Results: The results showed that the PCA biplot based on common peaks areas displayed that the global in vitro transdermal absorption effects of Jinhuang Gel were significantly better than those of Jinhuang Ointment. The in vitro transdermal absorption of paeoniflorin followed zero kinetics, and the cumulative permeation amount, permeation rate, and skin retention of paeoniflorin from Jinhuang Gel were superior to those from Jinhuang Ointment. Conclusion: Jinhuang Gel could improve the overall effects of in vitro percutaneous absorption. PCA is an effective means for investigating in vitro percutaneous absorption experiments of Chinese materia medica for transdermal administration.