Enhanced transdermal delivery of curcuminoids from statistically designed nano-emulgel formulated using Eucalyptus oil.

Aim: The present research aimed to develop a transdermal formulation of Curcuminoids utilizing eucalyptus oil as a permeation enhancer.

Material & Method: Design-based optimization studies were performed to select the concentration of excipients and to prepare the nano emulsion. The eucalyptus oil was selected to develop the curcuminoids emulgel. The developed emulgel was evaluated for permeation using human skin and analyzed by HPLC. The emulgel was also evaluated for anti-inflammatory potential as compared to Curcuminoid gel formulation without permeation enhancer.

Results: Permeability studies performed using human skin with subsequent analysis of the samples by HPLC revealed that developed formulation was three times better as compared to formulation without permeation enhancer. The enhanced penetration attributed to polarity alteration, liquidation, and disruption of lipid bilayer by the terpenes present in essential oils. Literature also suggested that monoterpenes like 1,8 cineole could disrupt the lipid bilayer of skin and thus result in better penetration. The improved permeability could also be responsible for the enhanced anti-inflammatory potential ( < 0.01) of the developed nano-emulgel.

Conclusion: In nutshell, we can conclude that curcuminoids have the potential to be developed as emulgel with eucalyptus oil as a penetration enhancer.