Alternative Medicine Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alternative Medicine, including details on complementary medicine, alternative therapies, homeopathy.

Influence of low-frequency massage device on transdermal absorption of ionic materials.

Sakurai H, Takahashi Y, Machida Y

Department of Drug Delivery Research, Hoshi University, 2-4-41, Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan. taka-y@hoshi.ac.jp

The influence of a low-frequency massage device on transdermal absorption of sodium benzoate, ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium was investigated in rats. Electrode pads spread with a hydroxypropyl cellulose gel containing the drug model were placed on excised skin in vitro. The transdermal permeation studies were carried out in the treatment group with the pulse applied through electrode pads spread with the gel, the pretreatment group with the gel applied after the application of the pulse and in the control group in which the gel was applied without the pulse. In vivo, transdermal absorption of ketoprofen was examined in the same groups used for the in vitro study. The pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen in plasma after intravenous injection was also studied. The treatment group showed higher cumulative permeated amounts of the drug models than the control in vitro. However, the enhancing effect was not observed in the pretreatment group. In vivo, the plasma ketoprofen level increased temporarily after the pulse was applied and then increased gradually as compared with the control. Since the distribution of ketoprofen from the central to the peripheral compartment was enhanced by the pulse in the injection study, enhancement of the biodistribution of ketoprofen by the low-frequency pulse was suggested.

Published 1 November 2005 in Int J Pharm, 305(1): 112-21.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Alternative Medicine Research Today. All Rights Reserved.