Formulation of a cream containing ethosomal green tea (Camellia Sinensis L. Kuntze) leaf extracts for improved dermal penetration

Objective: This study aimed to formulate the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea into ethosomes and measure the resulting increases in skin penetration using a rat model. Methods: Ethosomes were formulated using ethanol concentrations of 25% (F1), 30% (F2), and 35% (F3), and those with favorable characteristics were then incorporated into a cream for the determination of penetration into Franz diffusion cells. Results: We showed that the formulation F3 had the best spherical morphology, a Z-average value of 73.01 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.26, a zeta potential of -47.77±3.93 mV, and the highest percentage of drug entrapment (49.46%±0.62%) compared with the other formulas. The total cumulative EGCG penetration from the resulting ethosomal cream was 905.75±49.47 µg/cm², whereas that from the cream containing green tea leaf extract was only 413.92±52.83 µg/cm². Conclusion: These data indicate a higher penetration of EGCG from ethosomal green tea cream than from cream containing non-ethosomal green tea extract.