OBJECTIVETo prepare ursolic acid ethosomes and investigate the penetration characteristics of ursolic ethosomes as a transdermal vehicle.

METHODUrsolic acid ethosomes were prepared by injection method, and the shape and particle size of the ethosomes were analyzed. Ursolic acid permeation tests in vitro through the skin of rats were performed in TP-3 diffusion cell. The accumulated permeation amounts of ursolic acid 10% isopropanol solution, ursolic acid liposomes, ursolic acid ethosomes were compared.

RESULTThe average encapsulation percentage, particle size, and Zeta potential of the ethosomes were (95.83 +/- 0.86)%, (87.5 +/- 7.5) nm and - (38.4 +/- 3.6) mV, respectively. The accumulated permeation amount of the ethosomes in 12 h was 146.49 microg x cm(-2), and its transdermal permeability in 12 h was 12.17 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe encapsulation percentage of the ethosomes is good, and the stability of the ursolic acid ethosomes is fine. Ethosomes can significantly enhance the diffusion rate of ursolic acid through the skin of rats.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Particle Size ; Permeability ; Rats ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption ; Solubility ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics