title: Ethosomes in hair dye products as carriers of the major compounds of black tea extracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes a novel carrier, the ethosome-based system, which is composed of non-ionic surfactants, ethanol, and water.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brij(®) 52 (non-ionic surfactants), soya phosphatidylcholine (PC), cholesterol, and the major compounds (caffeine and gallic acid) of black tea extracts were dissolved in the ethanolic phase. The aqueous phase containing Paragon III was heated to 60 °C and mixed with the previous solution. Finally, 3.4 ml NaOH (6.5 N) was added to adjust the pH level to 4.05. The mixture was centrifuged at 2000 g for two minutes, and the precipitate was taken as the end product. Black tea extracts were applied in ethosome-based formulations, and the efficacy of these formulations in penetrating nude mouse skin and in dyeing white hairs was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with an ethanolic solution and black tea extracts, the non-ionic ethosomal delivery system dramatically enhanced the adsorption of black tea extracts onto hair surfaces in vitro. The non-ionic ethosomal system was much more efficient in delivering and facilitating the adsorption of black tea extracts to the hair surface than hydroalcoholic black tea extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This formulation may have potential for development as a hair dye and protective agent.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Hsiu-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jia-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: Min-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tzu-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kuei-Fen
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Feng-Lin
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002592:Cetomacrogol / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism*; D006202:Hair Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010539:Permeability; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D013662:Tea; D014935:Wool / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D006202:Hair Dyes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013662:Tea; D002110:Caffeine; D000431:Ethanol; D005707:Gallic Acid; D002592:Cetomacrogol; D002784:Cholesterol