A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement Mechanism

<b>Objectives</b>: This study aimed to identify and develop a novel, safe, and effective transdermal penetration enhancer derived from the leaves of <i>Perilla frutescens</i> (L.) Britt, and to explore the underlying mechanisms of its penetration enhancement effects. <b>...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nanxi Zhao, Jiale Hao, Yucong Zhao, Bingqian Zhao, Jiayu Lin, Jian Song, Manli Wang, Zheng Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/254
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849718629963137024
author Nanxi Zhao
Jiale Hao
Yucong Zhao
Bingqian Zhao
Jiayu Lin
Jian Song
Manli Wang
Zheng Luo
author_facet Nanxi Zhao
Jiale Hao
Yucong Zhao
Bingqian Zhao
Jiayu Lin
Jian Song
Manli Wang
Zheng Luo
author_sort Nanxi Zhao
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives</b>: This study aimed to identify and develop a novel, safe, and effective transdermal penetration enhancer derived from the leaves of <i>Perilla frutescens</i> (L.) Britt, and to explore the underlying mechanisms of its penetration enhancement effects. <b>Methods</b>: To evaluate the safety profile of the penetration enhancer, both skin irritation tests and histopathological analyses were conducted. The transdermal enhancement capabilities of the penetration enhancer were assessed in vitro using five model drugs. Furthermore, to gain insights into the penetration enhancement mechanism of this novel penetration enhancer, a range of analytical methods were used, including a spectroscopic technique, differential scanning calorimetry, micro-optical techniques, and molecular docking simulations. <b>Results</b>: Perilla essential oil contained 93.70% perilla ketone (PEK), which exhibited a safety profile superior to that of azone. PEK significantly increased the cumulative skin permeation of all the model drugs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). PEK exhibited the most obvious impact on puerarin penetration, with quantitative enhancement ratios of 2.96 ± 0.07 and 3.39 ± 0.21 at concentrations of 3% and 5% (<i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), respectively. A strong correlation between the enhancement effect of PEK and the physicochemical properties of the drugs was observed. Mechanistic studies revealed that PEK facilitates drug distribution from the solution phase to the stratum corneum (SC). <b>Conclusions</b>: PEK, seldom discussed in former studies, was observed to show extensive penetration enhancement effects by inducing conformational changes in SC lipids and disrupting the tightly ordered bilayer arrangement of lipids. These findings highlight the potential of PEK as a promising and safe natural transdermal penetration enhancer.
format Article
id doaj-art-a097b4bbc6f042c5a64f21c5bd2681f6
institution DOAJ
issn 1999-4923
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmaceutics
spelling doaj-art-a097b4bbc6f042c5a64f21c5bd2681f62025-08-20T03:12:19ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-02-0117225410.3390/pharmaceutics17020254A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement MechanismNanxi Zhao0Jiale Hao1Yucong Zhao2Bingqian Zhao3Jiayu Lin4Jian Song5Manli Wang6Zheng Luo7Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Jilin Central Hospital, Jilin 132013, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, China<b>Objectives</b>: This study aimed to identify and develop a novel, safe, and effective transdermal penetration enhancer derived from the leaves of <i>Perilla frutescens</i> (L.) Britt, and to explore the underlying mechanisms of its penetration enhancement effects. <b>Methods</b>: To evaluate the safety profile of the penetration enhancer, both skin irritation tests and histopathological analyses were conducted. The transdermal enhancement capabilities of the penetration enhancer were assessed in vitro using five model drugs. Furthermore, to gain insights into the penetration enhancement mechanism of this novel penetration enhancer, a range of analytical methods were used, including a spectroscopic technique, differential scanning calorimetry, micro-optical techniques, and molecular docking simulations. <b>Results</b>: Perilla essential oil contained 93.70% perilla ketone (PEK), which exhibited a safety profile superior to that of azone. PEK significantly increased the cumulative skin permeation of all the model drugs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). PEK exhibited the most obvious impact on puerarin penetration, with quantitative enhancement ratios of 2.96 ± 0.07 and 3.39 ± 0.21 at concentrations of 3% and 5% (<i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), respectively. A strong correlation between the enhancement effect of PEK and the physicochemical properties of the drugs was observed. Mechanistic studies revealed that PEK facilitates drug distribution from the solution phase to the stratum corneum (SC). <b>Conclusions</b>: PEK, seldom discussed in former studies, was observed to show extensive penetration enhancement effects by inducing conformational changes in SC lipids and disrupting the tightly ordered bilayer arrangement of lipids. These findings highlight the potential of PEK as a promising and safe natural transdermal penetration enhancer.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/254penetration enhanceressential oilperilla ketonepenetration enhancement mechanismtransdermal drug delivery
spellingShingle Nanxi Zhao
Jiale Hao
Yucong Zhao
Bingqian Zhao
Jiayu Lin
Jian Song
Manli Wang
Zheng Luo
A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement Mechanism
Pharmaceutics
penetration enhancer
essential oil
perilla ketone
penetration enhancement mechanism
transdermal drug delivery
title A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement Mechanism
title_full A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement Mechanism
title_fullStr A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement Mechanism
title_full_unstemmed A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement Mechanism
title_short A Novel Natural Penetration Enhancer for Transdermal Drug Delivery: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation and Penetration Enhancement Mechanism
title_sort novel natural penetration enhancer for transdermal drug delivery in vitro in vivo evaluation and penetration enhancement mechanism
topic penetration enhancer
essential oil
perilla ketone
penetration enhancement mechanism
transdermal drug delivery
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/254
work_keys_str_mv AT nanxizhao anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT jialehao anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT yucongzhao anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT bingqianzhao anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT jiayulin anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT jiansong anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT manliwang anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT zhengluo anovelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT nanxizhao novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT jialehao novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT yucongzhao novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT bingqianzhao novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT jiayulin novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT jiansong novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT manliwang novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism
AT zhengluo novelnaturalpenetrationenhancerfortransdermaldrugdeliveryinvitroinvivoevaluationandpenetrationenhancementmechanism