The aim of this
paper was to explore the effects of
Frankincense and Myrrh
essential oil on
transdermal absorption in vitro of Chuanxiong, and to investigate the possible penetration mechanism of their
essential oil from the perspective of
skin blood perfusion changes. Transdermal tests were performed
in vitro with excised
mice skin by improved Franz
diffusion cells. The cumulative penetration amounts of ferulic
acid in Chuanxiong were determined by
HPLC to investigate the effects of
Frankincense and Myrrh
essential oil on transdermal permeation properties of Chuanxiong. Simultaneously, the
skin blood flows were determined by
laser flow doppler. The results showed that the cumulative penetration amount of ferulic
acid in Chuanxiong was (8.13±0.76) μg•cm⁻² in 24 h, and was (48.91±4.87), (57.80±2.86), (63.34±4.56), (54.17±4.40), (62.52±7.79) μg•cm⁻² respectively in Azone group,
Frankincense essential oil group, Myrrh
essential oil,
frankincense and myrrh singly extracted
essential oil mixture group, and
frankincense and myrrh mixed extraction
essential oil group. The enhancement ratios of each
essential oil groups were 7.68, 8.26, 7.26, 8.28, which were slightly greater than 6.55 in Azone group. In addition, as compared with the conditions before
treatment, there were significant differences and obvious increasing trend in
blood flow of
rats in
Frankincense essential oil group, Myrrh
essential oil group,
frankincense and myrrh singly extracted
essential oil mixture group, and
frankincense and myrrh mixed extraction
essential oil group when were dosed
at 10, 20, 30, 10 min respectively, indicating that the
skin blood flows were increased under the effects of
Frankincense and Myrrh
essential oil to a certain extent. Thus,
Frankincense and Myrrh
essential oil had certain effect on promoting
permeability of Chuanxiong both before and after
drug combination, and may promote the elimination of
drugs from
epidermis to dermal
capillaries through increase of
skin blood flow, thus enhancing the transdermal permeation amounts of
drugs.