Enhanced anti-asthma effect of white mustard seed varnish cataplasm by iontophoresis and sonophoresis / 药学学报

ABSTRACT

Topically applied traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) generally show low transdermal rates and doses, leading to weak therapeutic efficacy. Here, cataplasm of white mustard seed varnish was prepared. The effects of iontophoresis and sonophoresis on the transdermal delivery of this TCM and its anti-asthma effect were evaluated. Active components of white mustard seed, rhizoma corydalis and Radix Kansui were obtained after alcohol extraction, respectively. The volatile oil in Asarum Heterotropoides were obtained with volatile oil extraction equipment. The drug loading ratio of cataplasms was 17% (w/w). Franz cell diffusion method was used to evaluate the accumulated permeation amount and the steady-state transdermal absorption rate of sodium thiocyanate. The improvement of sonophoresis on transdermal absorption was higher than that of iontophoresis.Asthma model of guinea pigs were established. Cataplasms of white mustard seed varnish were applied on the back of guinea pigs. Iontophoresis and sonophoresis obviously promoted the transdermal absorption and enhanced anti-asthma efficacy of white mustard seed varnish cataplasms. Pathological analysis showed that iontophoresis and sonophoresis significantly alleviated inflammation. Compared with the model group, IL-4 and IgE levels in the cataplasm group, cataplasm/iontophoresis group, cataplasm/sonophoresis group decreased obviously, although the IFN-γ levels markedly increased. Moreover, the therapeutic efficacy of cataplasm/sonophoresis group was the best in all the groups, even leading to levels similar to that of healthy animals. Iontophoresis and sonophoresis are effective methods to promote transdermal absorption of cataplasms. Moreover, the effect of sonophoresis is higher than that of iontophoresis. Physical penetration improvement techniques provide a novel insight for the wide application of transdermal TCM.