Effect of camellia oil on the permeation of flurbiprofen and diclofenac sodium through rat and pig skin.

The effect of camellia oil on the permeation of flurbiprofen (FP) and diclofenac sodium (DFS), used as model drugs, through rat and pig skin was examined. Two different types of camellia oil were used: one of them was purified by distillation and the other was purified by filtration without heating. The distilled camellia oil (DCO) and the filtered camellia oil (FCO) were applied to the skin as a pretreatment. Permeation of FP through the skins pretreated with FCO and DCO was enhanced, while that of DFS was suppressed. The effects of FCO were greater than those of DCO as far as enhancement and suppression were concerned. The effect of FCO on FP permeation could be due to oleic acid, one of the major components of FCO. On the other hand, FCO and oleic acid had opposite effects on the penetration of DFS. This result suggests that other active components which suppress the permeation of DFS may be present in FCO. Since the penetration-suppressing agents will be useful for skin care products, studies of such agents will be important in the future.