In Vitro and In Vivo Characteristics of Olive Oil as Excipient for Topical Administration

Marta Rodríguez-Torrado; Aytug Kara; Susana Torrado; Alejandro Romero; Antonio Juberías; Juan J Torrado; Dolores R Serrano

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14122615

In Vitro and In Vivo Characteristics of Olive Oil as Excipient for Topical Administration

Pharmaceutics. 2022 Nov 26;14(12):2615. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122615.

Authors

Marta Rodríguez-Torrado¹, Aytug Kara¹, Susana Torrado^{1

2}, Alejandro Romero³, Antonio Juberías⁴, Juan J Torrado^{1

2}, Dolores R Serrano¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
² Galenical and Industrial Pharmaceutical Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
³ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
⁴ Centro Militar de Farmacia de la Defensa (CEMILFARDEF), Base Logística de San Pedro, Colmenar Viejo, 28770 Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

Oily excipients are vital components of dermatological products. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of Wild Olive Oil (WOO) were compared with two other types of olive oils: Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and Virgin Olive Oil (VOO). This work has also included Liquid Paraffin (LP) and Rosehip Oil (RO) as reference oils. Melatonin was used in the study as a model drug to demonstrate the antioxidant capacity of the oils. The melatonin carrier capacity and antioxidant performance was related to the degree of unsaturation of the oils and was highest for RO and WOO and lowest for LP. However, the most stable oil to oxidation was LP. The in vivo performance of the oils in the skin of eight healthy volunteers was investigated with a dermoanalyser. The highest increment of oil and hydration in the skin was obtained with RO. The lowest perception of oiliness was described for WOO, which produced the highest increase in elasticity of the skin area where it was applied. An in vitro-in vivo correlation was therefore performed through multivariable analysis (MVA).

Keywords: MVA; antioxidant; dermoanalyser; liquid paraffin; melatonin; olive oil; rosehip oil; stability; wild olive oil.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, grant number 910939. The authors also thank the Spanish DGAM General Directorate of Armament and Material/SDG PLATIN for the MELVES project and Monva company for the olive oils.