Table 2.
Penetration parameters of thymoquinone through human cadaver skin (N = 5) after 24 h and the effect of 5% penetration enhancers on the solubility of TQ using propylene glycol.
| Formulation | TQ Flux (µg/cm²/h) | TQ Q24 (µg/cm²) | Lag time (h) | P × 10–3 (cm/h)±SD | Solubility (mg/mL) ± SD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | 11.02 ± 1.2 | 208 ± 23 | 3.17 ± 0.07 | 1.25 ± 0.13 | 8.6 ± 0.3 |
| Tween 80 | 11.09 ± 1.5 | 208 ± 16 | 3.25 ± 0.4 | 1.03 ± 0.14 | 9.39 ± 1.1 |
| NMP | 9 ± 1.5 b | 167 ± 38 | 3.9 ± 0.3 | 1.07 ± 0.19 | 8.5 ± 0.2 |
| Azone | 49.3 ± 5.6 a | 854 ± 93 | 4.2 ± 0.3 | 3.59 ± 0.36 | 14.98 ± 1.4 |
| Ethanol | 10.59 ± 1 | 180 ± 55 | 2.34 ± 0.2 | 0.69 ± 0.06 | 15.72 ± 0.5 |
| Oleic Acid | 46.3 ± 4.5 a | 865 ± 113 | 3.2 ± 0.3 | 3.03 ± 0.26 | 13.64 ± 2.1 |
| Transcutol® P | 14.23 ± 1.4 a | 247 ± 26 | 3.7 ± 0.2 | 1.37 ± 0.12 | 11.09 ± 0.7 |
a
Significant increase in TQ flux (p < .05).
b
Significant reduction in TQ flux (p < .05).
*
The values represent the concentration of TQ ± SD (N = 3) in mg/mL at 48 h.