ABSTRACT:
Background and the Purpose of the study: Losartan potassium (LP) is an antihypertensive drug already used by oral route administration. As chemical penetration enhancers are widely used in transdermal pharmaceuticals as well as cosmetic products. Therefore, in present study, the effect of chemical enhancers on the transdermal absorption of Losartan Potassium was investigated in vitro using full thickness albino rat skin. Methods: Transdermal transport of LP was studied in vitro in a modified Franz Diffusion cell using albino rat skin. The effect of the drug concentration and a binary system (PBS –ethanol) on the LP permeation was investigated. The effect of chemical enhancers (menthol, oleic acid, isopropyl myristate, sodium lauryl sulphate, tween 80) at different concentrations (3, 5, 10% w/v) was also examined. The skin permeation was evaluated by measuring the steady state permeation flux, permeability coefficient and enhancement ratio of the drug. Results: LP flux was found maximum in the order of - (1.32 mg/ cm2/h) with 3% oleic acid< (1.59 mg/ cm2/h) with 5% menthol< (3.39 mg/ cm2/h) with 10% menthol. FTIR results revealed that the changes of peak height and area due to C–H stretching vibrations in the stratum corneum lipids were associated with the selected enhancers. Conclusion: The use of permeation enhancers was found to be promising in delivering LP across the skin, and the highest permeation was attained when 10% w/v menthol was used with 50% v/v binary system.