title: Physical properties of gum karaya-starch-essential oil patches.
abstract: Essential oils are used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Despite the recent marketing of novel essential-oil-containing patches, there is no information on their production, constituents, or physical properties. The objectives of this study were to produce essential-oil patches and characterize their physical properties. The essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) was included at concentrations of 2.5% to 10% in patches manufactured from the exudate gum karaya, propylene glycol, glycerol, emulsifier, and optionally, potato starch as filler. Inclusion of essential oil reduced patch strength, stiffness, and elasticity relative to patches without essential oil. Inclusion of starch in the essential-oil patches strengthened them, but reduced their elasticity. Patches' adhesion to substrate was examined by both peeling and probe-tack tests: the higher the inclusion of essential oils within the patch, the larger the decrease in its adhesion to substrate. Addition of starch to essential-oil-containing patches increased their adhesion relative to their essential-oil-only counterparts. Scanning electron micrographs of the patches provided evidence of entrapped starch granules. Although inclusion of essential oil reduced both the mechanical properties and adhesion of the patches, a high proportion of essential oil can still be included without losing patch integrity or eliminating its adhesiveness to the skin.
authors: Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Department of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
authors: Yulia
authors: Y
authors: Shcherbina
authors: Zvi
authors: Z
authors: Roth
authors: Amos
authors: A
authors: Nussinovitch
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D007618:Karaya Gum / Q000737:chemistry*; D027523:Lavandula; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D057968:Transdermal Patch
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D004337:Drug Carriers; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D007618:Karaya Gum; D013213:Starch; C045718:lavender oil