01 August 2008
Ex vivo skin absorption of terpenes from Vicks VapoRub ointment
Krzysztof CalABDEF, Monika SopalaBDFMed Sci Monit 2008; 14(8): PI19-23 :: ID: 865799
Abstract
Background
The pharmaceutical market offers a wide range of inhalant drug products applied on the skin that contain essential oils and/or their isolated compounds, i.e. terpenes. Because there are few data concerning the skin penetration of terpenes, especially from complex carriers, the goal of this study was to determine the ex vivo skin absorption kinetics of chosen terpenes, namely eucalyptol, menthol, camphor, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene, from the product Vicks VapoRub.
Material and Method
Human cadaver skin was placed in a flow-through diffusion chamber and the product was applied for 15, 30, and 60 min. After the application time the skin was separated into layers using a tape-stripping technique: three fractions of stratum corneum and epidermis with dermis, and terpenes amounts in the samples were determined by gas-chromatography.
Results
The investigated terpenes showed different absorption characteristics related to their physicochemical properties and did not permeate through the skin into the acceptor fluid. Eucalyptol had the largest total accumulation in the stratum corneum and in the epidermis with dermis, while alpha-pinene penetrated into the skin in the smallest amount.
Conclusions
The short time in which saturation of the stratum corneum with the terpenes occurred and the high accumulation of most of the investigated terpenes in the skin layers proved that these compounds easily penetrate and permeate the stratum corneum and that in vivo they may easily penetrate into the blood circulation.
Keywords: Ointments - pharmacokinetics, Skin Absorption, Monoterpenes - metabolism, Menthol - metabolism, Cyclohexanols - metabolism, Drug Combinations, Camphor - metabolism, Terpenes - pharmacokinetics, Plant Extracts - pharmacokinetics, Cadaver, Bicyclo Compounds - metabolism
982 45
Editorial
01 December 2023 : Editorial
Editorial: Outbreaks of Post-Pandemic Childhood Pneumonia and the Re-Emergence of Endemic Respiratory InfectionsDOI: 10.12659/MSM.943312
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e943312
In Press
04 Dec 2023 : Animal Research
Effects of Intrathecal Ketamine on Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Mech...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI:
01 Dec 2023 : Clinical Research
Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Retrospective St...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI:
30 Nov 2023 : Review article
Decoding the Neurological Sequelae of General Anesthesia: A ReviewMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI:
30 Nov 2023 : Clinical Research
Enhanced Pain Relief and Muscle Growth in Individuals with Low Back Instability: The Impact of Blood Flow R...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI:
Most Viewed Current Articles
13 Nov 2021 : Clinical Research
Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Associated Factors Among Cancer Patients Attending the Oncology ...DOI :10.12659/MSM.932788
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e932788
30 Dec 2021 : Clinical Research
Retrospective Study of Outcomes and Hospitalization Rates of Patients in Italy with a Confirmed Diagnosis o...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935379
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e935379
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
08 Mar 2022 : Review article
A Review of the Potential Roles of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Approaches for the Man...DOI :10.12659/MSM.936292
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e936292