RESUMEN
Objective: To study the in vitro transdermal absorption properties of active fraction from Xiangfu Siwu Decoction (XSD). Methods: UPLC-MS/MS method was established for the determination of six main active ingredients (ferulic acid, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, tetrahydrocolumbamine, protopine, and tetrahydropalmatine) in active fraction of XSD (BW) and transdermal receiving liquid. The active ingredient group of six active ingredients was prepared according to their proportion in BW. The experiment of in vitro transdermal absorption was performed using vitro-abdominal skin of rats and improved Franz diffusion cell method. Results: UPLC-MS/MS method showed perfect specificity and the six ingredients performed well in linear relationship (r>0.997), precision (RSD≤2.66%), repeatability (RSD≤2.98%), stability (RSD≤3.99%), and average recovery rate [(95.22±5.48)%-(103.68±2.90)%]. The cumulative transmittance of the six ingredients displayed the same order between the active ingredient group and BW. The cumulative transmittance in descending order was as follows: ferulic acid>tetrahydrocolumbamine > tetrahydropalmatine>protopine>paeoniflorin≈albiflorin. Additional, transdermal absorption properties of the six ingredients in vitro were affected by the pH value of supply liquid significantly. Conclusion: The in vitro transdermal absorption behavior of the active ingredient group is consistent with BW and pH value can change the behavior of active ingredients in in vitro transdermal absorption.