Objective: To investigate the evaluation method for self-emulsifying drug delivery system of volatile oil from rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong (VOC SEDDS).
Method: The self-emulsifying ability, the efficiency of self-emulsification, the properties of emulsion, the dissolution of volatile oil from Rhizome of Ligusticum Chuanxiong and the stability of the emulsion were determined.
Result: The optimized formulation can fully emulsify in 5 min and the particle sizes were around 102 nm. Zeta potential was about -30 mV. The O/W emulsions were stable through centrifugation with high reproducibility. In vitro dissolution test indicated that over 80% of drug dissolved in 30 min and VOC SEDDS was stable under light and high temperature in 10 d.
Conclusion: VOC SEDDS has strong self-emulsifying ability, fine stability and high dissolution rate in vitro.