Ex vivo permeation through porcine oral mucous membrane of Salvia sclarea essential oil from topical formulations

In the light of recent studies, which have shown that the essential oil derived from some Lamiaceae species has appreciable anti- inflammatory activity, moderate anti-microbial action and the ability to inhibit induced hyperalgesia, an assessment of the diffusion and permeation ofSalvia sclarea L. essential oi? through porcine buccal mucosa was considered useful for a possible application in the stomatologicalfield. Topicalformulations (microemulsions, hydrogels and microemulsion-hydrogels) were preparedfor application to the buccal mucosa. The formulations contained different concentrations of the Salvia sclarea L. essentialoil. The mucosa permeation of the oil
from the formulations was evaluated using Franz cells, with porcine buccal mucosa as septum between the formulations (donor compartment) and the receptor phase chambers. The diffusion ofthe oil through the membrane was determined by evaluating the amount of essential oil components present in the receiving solution, theflux and the permeation coefficient (at the steady state) in the different
formulations at set intervals. Qualitative and quantitative determinations were effected by gas chromatographic analysis. All the formulations allow a high permeability coefficient in comparison with
the pure essential oil. In particular, the components with a terpenic structure have the highest capacity to pass through the porcine buccal mucosa when compared to the other components.