Crude drug (zingiberaceae) enhancement of percutaneous absorption of indomethacin: in vitro and in vivo permeation.

Abstract

To improve drug permeation through skin, extracts of crude drugs were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo penetration techniques with rabbit skin as a model membrane. The acetone extract of Amomum cardamomum (ae-AC) and Elettaria cardamomum (ae-EC) had the best effect in enhancing the penetration of Indomethacin (IDM). The flux of IDM for the formulation containing ae-AC from pH 7.4 buffer-alcohol donor solution was 3.6 times higher than that from the 50% alcohol donor solution. In order to confirm enhancer/skin interaction, a microscopic study was carried out in order to determine the presence of physical evidence in the skin caused by enhancers. A pharmacokinetic model of percutaneous absorption of IDM after topical administration was employed on the assumption of a zero-order penetration rate through the stratum corneum followed by absorption into the blood by a first-order process. Good correlation was observed between the experimental data point and simulated plasma concentration. From the results of the study, the in vitro permeability coefficient correlates with the in vivo penetration rate through the stratum corneum.