Influence of Phospholipid Composition on the Permeation Behaviors of Active Ingredients from Xiang-Fu-Si-Wu Decoction Through Liposome-Based Artificial Skin Membrane

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the composition of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) and hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) on the permeation behaviors of active ingredients from Xiang-Fu-Si-Wu Decoction (XFSWD) through liposome-based artificial skin membrane (LASM). METHODS Liposomes with different phospholipid compositions were prepared by film-dispersion method. The nylon membrane was combined with liposomes by freezing-thawing cycle to obtain LASM and its electrical resistance value was measured by a cell membrane resistance meter. The LASM with different phospholipid compositions was applied for the measurement of skin permeation behaviors of five active ingredients （ferulic acid， paeoniflorin， albiflorin， tetrahydrocolumbamine and tetrahydropalmatine） from XFSWD. Interaction mechanism between EPC and HSPC was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. RESULTS Phospholipid composition played a regulatory role for the electrical resistance of LASM. The highest barrier function of LASM was obtained at the molar ratio of EPC∶HSPC=3∶1， resulting in the lowest permeation values of the active ingredients from XFSWD. The permeability increased with the increase of HSPC in LASM in the range of the molar ratio of EPC∶HSPC =3∶1~1∶3. Additionally， DSC analysis revealed that EPC and HSPC could be combined into one homogenous phase at the molar ratio of EPC∶HSPC =3∶1. CONCLUSION The barrier function of LASM can be effectively controlled by the modification of phospholipid composition， facilitating the simulation of real skin barrier to investigate the skin permeation behaviors of the active components from traditional Chinese medicine.