Cutaneous Effects of Sea Buckthorn Oil Emulsion

Sea buckthorn oil (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is medically used both externally and internally, but the external application is unsuitable due to its liquid, lipophilic and highly coloured nature. These difficulties could be overcome by a formulation of semisolid emulsion with sea buckthorn oil. Previous research on this formulation showed that it has higher wound healing potential than sea buckthorn oil, possessing an enhanced structure of liquid crystals, stability and suitability for topical use. The aim of this investigation was to completely characterizise a proposed emulsion by testing skin effects, such as moisturising potential, skin pH and potential to cause skin irritation. The emulsion was prepared by standard emulsifying techniques using a combination of surfactants that form an enhanced structure of liquid crystals. Approximately 40% of sea buckthorn oil was incorporated. The moisturising potential and skin pH were tested on the healthy skin of volunteers. Skin tolerance was tested on a rabbit skin model and evaluated by the Draize test. The tested emulsion containing sea buckthorn oil did not cause a significant change in skin pH, while it significantly increased skin hydration. Th ere was an absence of edema or erythema type of irritation after 2 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 7 days of application of the emulsion with sea buckthorn oil. The tested formulation shows good moisturizising effects and does not cause human or animal skin irritation. Th e study confi ms that the combination of the proposed ingredients in a sea buckthorn oil emulsion is adequate and could be safe for skin application Ulje pasjeg trna (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) se u medicinske svrhe upotrebljava kako za eksternu tako i za internu primenu, pri čemu je eksterna primena nepogodna usled njegove tečne konzistencije, lipofi lne prirode i intenzivne obojenosti. Navedeni nedostaci bi se mogli prevazići formulacijom polučvrstih emulzija sa uljem pasjeg trna. Prethodna ispitivanja ove formulacije su pokazala da poseduje znatno veći potencijal za zarastanje rana u odnosu na ulje pasjeg trna, unapređenu strukturu tečnih kristala, stabilnost i pogodnost za lokalnu primenu. Sprovedeno istraživanje imalo je za cilj da upotpuni karakterizaciju predložene formulacije, testirajući efekte na koži- hidrirajući potencijal, pH kože i potencijal za izazivanje kožnih iritacija. Emulzija je pripremljena standardnim tehnikama emulgovanja, korišćenjem kombinacije surfaktanata kojima se formira poboljša