OBJECTIVE To compare the function of "unification of medicines and excipients" of essential oils (EOs) from Xiangfu Siwu decoction (XFSWD) and its single herbs for percutaneous external application.
METHODS All the EOs of XFSWD and its single herbs (Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Saussurea lappa, Cyperus rotundus) were extracted by wet distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Transdermal penetration enhancement of EOs was evaluated by electrical resistance of skin. Then the in vitro toxicity was evaluated by human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cytotoxicity. Oxytocin induced female rats uterine contraction animal model was applied to evaluate the bioactivity of EOs.
RESULTS Ligustilide (43.54%) was the main component of XFSWD oil. Compaired with single herbs, 16 new constituents were determined from XFSWD oil. EOs had significant transdermal penetration enhancement (P < 0.05), of which the XFSWD oil presented 2.5 times higher effect than that of Azone. EOs showed lower skin cytotoxicity (P < 0.05), with IC50 value was 1.98~6.25 times that of Azone. The experiments showed that the activities of the EOs on inhibition of rats uterine contraction were increased in varying degrees. The activities of XFSWD oil was prior to that of EOs from single herbs on the contraction amplitude, contraction frequency and muscle tension of smooth muscle, which were 66.69%, 47.56% and 66.98%, respectively.
CONCLUSION XFSWD oil has the characteristics of low skin toxicity, high penetration promoting effect and strong pharmacological activity, which makes it easier to bring the superiority of "unification of medicines and excipients" into full play.
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