Abstract

Hydrophilic arbutin as lightening agent with log P value -1.35, make it difficult to permeate through the skin and reach its site of action. Sesame oil addition (3, 5, and 7% w/w) was expected to increase the arbutin release and penetrations. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of sesame oil addition on the arbutin release and penetrations in the Carbomer-940’s gel base. The release (flux) of arbutin, as initial process before penetration, formulation were studied using cellophane membrane and buffer phosphate pH 7.0 as media at 37±0.5°C for six hours long. The penetration of arbutin was observation on inhibition of enzyme tyrosinase activity. Inhibition percent of tyrosinase by arbutin was determined in vitro by observing the absorbance value of dopachrome (an intermediate product of melanin formation) as a reaction product between enzyme tyrosinase and L-tyrosine as a substrate using spectrophotometer. Conclusion of this study was sesame oil addition 3 and 5% w/w decreased arbutin release, sesame oil addition 3, 5 and 7% w/w increased arbutin penetrations. Increasing of arbutin effectiveness more is caused by enhancer effect of sesame oil

Authors and Affiliations