Potential Use of Annona Genus Plants Leaf Extracts to Produce Bioactive Transdermal Patches by Supercritical Solvent Impregnation

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to develop a bioactive transdermal patch functionalized with Annona leaf extracts (ALE) by means of supercritical impregnation technique. The potential of six different Annona leaf extracts (ALE) obtained with the enhanced solvent system formed by carbon dioxide + ethanol/acetone was evaluated taking into account the antioxidant activity, total phenol composition and global extraction yields. For the impregnation of ALE, two drug supporting systems were tested: hydrocolloid sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and polyester dressings (PD). The effect of the impregnation conditions, including pressure (P), temperature (T), percent of co-solvent (ethanol) and ALE/polymer mass ratio, was determined with regard to the loading and the functional activity of the impregnated samples. The optimal impregnation conditions of ALE were established at 55 °C and 300 bar which led to obtained transdermal patches with antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity. In order to understand the behavior of the process, the homogeneity of the samples in the vessels was also evaluated. The best results were obtained at higher proportions of co-solvent in the system.