Effect of thyme oil on the transdermal permeation of pseudoephedrine hcl from topical gel

Abstract

The aims of the current study were to prepare pseudoephedrine gel formulations for skin permeability and to assess the effect of thyme oil on the permeability of the formulations. Thyme oil was used in the gel formulations at a range of concentrations (0–3%) and its effects on pseudoephedrine permeation profiles in vitro were observed. Several physicochemical characteristics of the formulated gels were analyzed to assess their suitability for topical application. A standard pseudoephedrine calibration curve was prepared to analyze the quantity of drug released from the samples. In vitro drug permeability was studied using a Franz diffusion cell apparatus with a cellulose membrane and excised rabbit skin. Several kinetic models were used to assess the drug permeability behavior, and the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model was found to correspond to the in vitro drug release profiles of the pseudoephedrine gels. The formulation was physiochemically stable, the drug was released, and thyme oil did enhance the permeation of the drug up to 69.87%.