In vitro skin permeation of cubosomes containing water soluble extracts of Korean barberry

Abstract

The monoolein (MO) cubic phases containing water soluble extract (WSE) from Berberis koreana (Korean barberry) were prepared by hydrating the molten MO with aqueous solutions of WSE (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%). The phase transition temperature of cubic phase containing WSE (∼70°C) was almost the same as that of WSE-free MO cubic phase that indicates that WSE was immobilized in the water channels of the cubic phase and did not affect its structure. The release of WSE from the cubic phase fits the first order process. The cubosomes were obtained by micronizing the cubic phase in a sonicator using Pluronic F127 as a dispersant. The cubosomes were stable in size at the ethanol concentration ≲16%. When compared with WSE solution in phosphate-buffered saline (10 mM, pH 7.4), in vitro skin permeation of WSE in the cubosomes was enhanced by about two times.