In vitro permeation through porcine buccal mucosa of Salvia desoleana Atzei & Picci essential oil from topical formulations

In the light of recent studies, which have shown that the essential oil der ived from some Lamiaceae species has appreciable anti-inflammatory activity , moderate anti-microbial action and the ability to inhibit induced hyperal gesia, an assessment of the diffusion and permeation of Salvia desoleana At zei & Picci (S. desoleana) essential oil through porcine buccal mucosa was considered useful for a possible application in the stomatological field. T opical formulations (microemulsions, hydrogels and microemulsion-hydrogels) were prepared for application to the buccal mucosa. The mucosa permeation of the oil from the formulations was evaluated using Franz cells, with porc ine buccal mucosa as septum between the formulations (donor compartment) an d the receptor phase chambers. The study also aimed at optimising the perme ability of the S. desoleana essential oil by means of an enhancer, the diet hylene glycol monoethyl ether Transcutol(R). The diffusion of the oil throu gh the membrane was determined by evaluating the amount of essential oil co mponents present in the receiving solution, the flux and the permeation coe fficient (at the steady slate) in the different formulations at set interva ls. Qualitative and quantitative determinations were done by gas chromatogr aphic analysis. All the formulations allow a high permeability coefficient in comparison with the pure essential oil. In particular, the components wi th a terpenic structure (beta-pinene, cineole, alpha-terpineol and linalool ) have the highest capacity to pass through the porcine buccal mucosa when compared to the other components (linalyl acetate and alpha-terpinil acetat e). Moreover, the enhancer, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether largely incre ases the permeation of the essential oil components in relation to the conc entration. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.