Lipid-based nanocarriers to enhance skin permeation and antioxidant activity of Centella asiatica extract

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of different formulations, including solution, gel, liposome and niosome for in vitro skin permeation and antioxidant activity of Centella asiatica (CA) extract. The liposomes and niosomes loaded with CA were characterized to observe the physicochemical properties i.e., particle size, zeta potential, percentage of entrapment efficiency (%EE) and percentage of loading efficiency (%LE). In vitro skin permeation studies revealed that liposome formulations had a superior enhancing effect on skin permeation compared to niosome, gel and solution formulation. Upon applied niosome formulations for the delivery of CA extract at 24 hours (h), the antioxidant activity was higher than liposome, gel and solution formulation, as evidenced by the increased in percent inhibition using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. However, there was no significant difference in antioxidant activity between niosome and liposome formulations. Accordingly, both the liposome and noisome formulations are promising approaches for transdermal delivery of CA extract for promoting successful antioxidant activity.