PERCUTANEOUS ABSORPTION PROMOTER AND DERMATOLOGIC PREPARATION FOR EXTERNAL USE

Abstract: A promoter consists of (a) at least one anionic surfactant together with at least one surfactant other than an anionic surfactant, and which contains nitrogen in the molecule; or (b) at least one anionic surfactant together with at least one non-ionic surfactant having no nitrogen in the molecule; or (c) at least one amphoteric and/or semipolar surfactant, together with at least one non-ionic surfactant containing nitrogen in the molecule; or (d) at least one amphoteric, nonionic, semi polar and/or cationic surfactant containing nitrogen, together with at least one non-ionic surfactant without nitrogen in the molecule; or (e) an amine oxide.

Description: This invention relates to percutaneous absorption promoting agents, to their use in the manufacture of dermatological preparations and to dermatological preparations containing said percutaneous absorption promoting agents. Heretofore a drug component has been administered by oral administration, administration by injection, intramuscular or intravenous administration and administration to intestine or mucosa within the mouth. Among them, oral administration has been most widely practised. However, in the case of oral administration, drawbacks have occurred such that the concentration has become temporarily higher than is necessary to ensure persistence of the effect and that side effects such as stomach disorder or lack of appetite may be caused. On the other hand, although absorption is rapid in administration by injection, this must be made by an expert such as physician, etc. Recently, dermatological preparations intended for percutaneous administration have been developed to eliminate such side effects and drawbacks. However, even in such dermatological preparations, a sufficient percutaneous absorptivity has not been yet obtained in most cases, and therefore, they are not considered satisfactory. Further, the surface of the skin, which is called the skin corneum layer, has in itself a physiological function as a barrier for protection against the penetration of foreign matter from outside the body, and therefore a sufficient percutaneous absorptivity cannot be obtained by merely formulating a drug component in a base conventionally used in the prior art in a dermatological preparation. To improve percutaneous absorption, various percutaneous absorption promoting agents have been proposed in recent years. For example, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide and methyldecyl sulfoxide, are known, but these cannot be considered to have a sufficient percutaneous absorption promoting effect, safety and use feeling. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as mentioned above and provide a percutaneous absorption promoting agent having an excellent percutaneous absorption promoting effect of a drug component, and further satisfactory with respect to safety and use feeling. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dermatological preparation comprising the percutaneous absorption promoting agent and a drug component, which is an excellent percutaneous absorption agent promoting the effect of the drug component and further, is satisfactory with respect to safety and use feeling. The present invention provides, in one aspect, a percutaneous absorption promoting agent for a drug component, comprising, as the active ingredient, at least one water-insoluble or only slightly water-soluble amine oxide selected from the group consisting of: (1) dimethylstearylamine oxide, dimethyloleylamine oxide, dimethylbehenylamine oxide and methyldilaurylamine oxide; and (2) amine oxides represented by the formula (I): wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each independently represents a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, and at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 representing a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 24 carbon atoms. In an alternative aspect the invention provides the use of a water-insoluble or only slightly water-soluble amine oxide selected from the group consisting of: (1) dimethylstearylamine oxide, dimethyloleylamine oxide, dimethylbehenylamine oxide and methyldilaurylamine oxide; and (2) amine oxides represented by the formula (I): wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each independently represents a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, and at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 representing a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 24 carbon atoms; for the manufacture of a dermatological preparation containing a drug component and having improved percutaneous absorption. The constitution of the present invention is now described in detail. The above anionic surfactant may include anionic surfactants having one or two or more of a carboxylic acid group, sulfonic acid group, sulfuric acid ester group, and phosphoric acid ester group, in the molecule. Those having a carboxylic acid group may include fatty acid soap, ether carboxylic acid and salts thereof, carboxylic acid salts such as condensates of amino acid and fatty acid; those having a sulfonic acid salt may include alkylsulfonic acid salts, sulfosuccinic acid, ether sulfonic acid salt, alkylallyl and alkylnaphthalene sulfonic acid salts, N-acylsulfonic acid salt, formalin condensation type sulfonic acid salts; those having a sulfuric acid ester group, may include sulfated oil, ester sulfuric acid salt. alkylsulfuric acid salt, ether sulfuric acid salt. alkylallyl ether sulfuric acid salt and amidosulfuric acid salt; those having a phosphoric acid ester group may include alkylphosphoric acid salts, amidophosphoric acid salts, ether phosphoric acid salts and alkylallyl ether phosphoric acid salts. From among these, one or two or more may be selected as desired. Examples of the nonionic surfactant having a nitrogen atom in the molecule may include fatty acid alkanolamide, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide, esters of alkanolamine and polyoxyethylene alkylamine. One or two or more may be selected as desired from among these. Examples of the amphoteric surfactant having a nitrogen atom in the molecule may include carboxy betaine such as N,N-dimethyl-N-lauryl-N-carboxymethylammonium betaine, N,N-dimethyl-N-oleyl-N-carboxymethylammonium betaine; imidazoline derivatives such as 2-lauryl-N-carboxyethyl-N-hydroxyethylimidazolinium betaine, 2-lauryl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethylimidazolinium betaine: aminocarboxylic acid salts such as N-cocoalkyl-β-aminopropionic acid sodium salt, N-cocoalkyl-β-iminodipropionic acid disodium salt: sulfobetaine and aminobetaine. In the present invention, one or two or more selected from the group consisting of the above amphoteric surfactants and the above semi-polar surfactants may be used as desired. In a yet further aspect the invention provides a purcutaneous absorption promoting agent comprising (i) lauryldimethylamine oxide and (ii) sodium dodecylsulfate in a molar ratio (i):(ii) of 20:1 to 1:20. As the drug component, the pharmacological effect of which can be increased by utilization of the above percutaneous absorption promoting agents, the following drugs may be exemplified. For example, there are steroid type anti-inflammatory agents such as prednisolone and dexamethasone; non-steroid type anti-inflammatory agents such as indomethacin, flufenamic acid and mefenamic acid; anti-histaminic agents such as chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine and promethazine; sulfur containing agents such as sulfa monomethoxinel and sulfamethizole; antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin; antifungal agents such as naphthiomate and clotrimazole; anti-malignant tumor agents such as cyclophosphamide, busulfan and actinomycin; analgesics such as morphine, codeine, nalorphine, pentazocine, aspirin, acetanilide and aminopyrine; narcotics and tranquilizers such as prostaglandins, barbital and thiopental; psychopharmaceuticals such as chlorpromazine, reserpine and chlordiazepoxide; anti-Perkinson's disease agents such as chlorzoxazone and levodopa; cardiacs such as digitoxin and digoxin; antiarrythmic agents such as procainamide hydrochloride; anti-stenocardia agents such as dipyridamole and amylnitrite; anti-hypertensives such as diazoxide, minoxydil, reserpine and guanethidine nitrate; UV-ray inhibitors such as paraaminobenzoate ester; melanin formation inhibitors such as hydroquinone, arbutin, kojic acid, Vitamin C esters and para-hydroxycinnamate; psoriasis PUVA therapeutics such as 8-methoxypsonaen; Vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 (Vitamin Q); hair growing agents such as cepharanthin, swertiamarin and oxendolone; hormones such as insulin, estradiol and methyltestosterone; diagnostics; allergens for patch tests insecticides; secticides; humectants; corneum emoliient; hair dyes, and other drug components. Particularly as the drug component, water-soluble drug components such as indomethacin, minoxidil, hydroquinone, arbutin, kojic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin C ester, swertiamarin and cepharanthin can be particularly rapidly absorbed into the skin. These drug components can be absorbed rapidly into the skin by coating on the skin when mixed with the percutaneous absorption promoting agent of the present invention. In the case of a drug component to be used for topical action, excellent effect can be exhibited by penetrating deeply into the skin, and in the case of drug component to be used for systemic action, this can also exhibit a similarly excellent effect because the drug component migrates into the blood. The subject to which these ingredients are applied is, of course, a human being but they can be also effectively used for other animals. The amount of the drug component formulated may be sufficient to bring about the desired pharmacological effect, which depends also on the kind of the drug component, body weight of the patient and severity of the disease; but it may be preferably 0.001 to 5 parts by weight of the percutaneous absorption promoting agents, more preferably 0.01 to 30 parts by weight, per 1 part by weight of the drug component. The above percutaneous absorption promoting agents may be used by suitably mixing the drug component as such, but is generally used by mixing the constituents in a base for dermatological preparation such as cream preparation, ointment preparation, gel preparation, lotion preparation or emulsion adhesive tape. The amount of the respective constituents in that case may differ depending on the kind of the drug component, but generally the following ranges are the preferred ranges of the amount formulated. That is, the total amount of the anionic surfactant and the amine oxide may be 0.001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight in the dermatological preparation, and the drug component may be 0.001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight. On the other hand, for the ratio of the anionic surfactant to the amine oxide the ratio as mentioned above, namely 20:1 to 1:20, preferably 10:1 to 1:10 may be applied as such. On the other hand, the total amount formulated of the amphoteric surfactant and the amine oxide and the nonionic surfactant having a nitrogen atom in the molecule may be 0.001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight in the dermatological preparation, and the drug component may be 0.001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight. For the ratio of the amphoteric surfactant and the amine oxide to the nonionic surfactant having a nitrogen atom in the molecule, the ratio as described above, namely 20:1 to 1:20, preferably 10:1 to 1:10 in terms of molar ratio may be applied as such. Further, the amount of amine oxide formulated may be 0.0001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight in the dermatological preparation. The amount of the drug component may be 0.001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight. In the dermatological preparation promoting the percutaneous absorption of drug component according to the present invention, it is also possible to formulate components as generally formulated in drugs, quasi drugs and cosmetic. Examples of such components may include polyhydric alcohol, oil component, wax, acid, alkali, cationic surfactant, nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant, powder, pigment, dye, preservative antifungal agent, antioxidant, UV-ray absorber, cheating agent, water-soluble polymer, montmorilonite, alcohol, solvent and flavor. More specifically, there may be included polyhydric alcohols such as glycerine, propylene glycol; oil components such as fluid paraffin, squalane, higher fatty acids and higher alcohols; organic acids such as citric acid, lactic acid: alkalis such as caustic soda and triethanolamine; anionic surfactants such as higher alkylsulfuric acid ester salts, higher alkylethersulfuric acid ester salts, higher fatty acid amide sulfonic acid salts, higher alkylsulfosuccinic acid salts, alkylbenzenesulfonic acid salts, acylglutamic acid salts and higher alkylphosphoric acid salts: cationic surfactants such as higher alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, fatty amine salts and alkylpyridinium salts; amphoteric surfactants such as carboxybetaine, sulfobetaine and imidazoline derivatives; polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide, sorbitan fatty acid esters, fatty acid alkanolamide and polyglycerine fatty acid ester. The percutaneous absorption promoting agent and the dermatological preparation according to the present invention have an excellent percutaneous absorption promoting effect of a drug component, and further are percutaneous absorption promoters with a good safety and use feeling. EXAMPLES The present invention is described in more detail by referring to Examples. In the following Examples, "%" represents "% by weight", unless otherwise specifically noted. Example 1-1: Cream (1) Dexamethasone 0.025% (2) Propylene glycol 8.0 (3) Glycerine 5.0 (4) Fluid paraffin 1.0 (5) Diisopropyl adipate 3.0 (6) Sodium dodecylsulfate 0.08 (7) Dodecyldimethylamine oxide 0.16 (8) Glycerine monofatty acid ester 1.5 (9) Preservative q.s. (10) Clay mineral (bentonite) 6.0 (11) Purified water balance Preparation Method To (5) were added (1), (4), (8) and (9) and these components were dissolved and mixed by heating to 70°C. This was called composition (A). The components (6) and (7) were added to a part of (11) to be dissolved therein, followed further by addition and mixing of the components (2) and (3). This was called composition (B). While composition (B) was stirred at a temperature maintained at 70°C, composition (A) was gradually added to effect preliminary emulsification, followed by emulsification by a homomixer. The resultant emulsion was added to a dispersion having added and dispersed (10) in the remainder of (11) under stirring, and cooled to obtain a cream. Comparative Example 1-1: Cream (1) Dexamethasone 0.025% (2) Propylene glycol 8.0 (3) Glycerine 5.0 (4) Fluid paraffin 1.0 (5) Diisopropyl adipate 3.0 (6) Glycerine monofatty acid ester 1.5 (7) Preservative q.s. (8) Clay mineral (bentonite) 6.0 (9) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Example 1-1. Test Example 1-1 For the creams prepared in Example 1-1 and Comparative Example 1-1, the vasoconstrictive action was compared. More specifically, on the upper backs of 10 healthy human males, creams prepared in Example 1-1 and Comparative Example 1-1, and further creams of the above two kinds of creams not containing dexamethasone were respectively and randomly apportioned, applied by use of an adhesive plaster for patch test (produced by Torii Yakuhin), and plastered under sealing. After 4 hours, the adhesive plaster was peeled off, the sample removed, and judgement was conducted after further standing for 4 hours. Judgement was conducted according to the standards by achromasia phenomenon accompanied with vasoconstrictive action of steroids as "remarkable achromasia phenomenon" (score 2), "clear achromasia phenomenon" (score 1), "faint achromasia phenomenon" (score 0.5), "no change" (score 0), and an average score was determined for each base. The results are shown in Table 1-1. Base Average score after 4 hours Example 1.7 Comparative Example 1.0 System of Example from which dexamethasone is removed 0 System of Comparative Example from which dexamethasone is removed 0 As apparent from Table 1-1, it can be understood that the cream of Example 1-1 had an excellent vasoconstrictive action. Example 1-2: Gel (1) Indomethacin 1.0% (2) Ethyl alcohol 50.0 (3) Carboxyl vinyl polymer 1.2 (4) Polyoxyethylene (hereinafter called POE: 40 mole) hardened castor oil 1.5 (5) Sodium dodecylsulfate 0.5 (6) Sodium dodecylphosphate 0.6 (7) Sodium laurylisothionate 0.2 (8) Dodecyldimethylamine oxide 1.14 (9) Diethanolamide laurate 0.2 (10) Diisopropanolamine 0.35 (11) Purified water balance Preparation Method After (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) were dissolved in (11), (3) was dispersed in the solution. The dispersion was added to a solution of (1) and (4) added and dissolved in (2), followed by thorough mixing. Further, to this mixture was added (10) and the mixture was stirred and mixed to obtain a gel. Comparative Example 1-2 (1) Indomethacin 1.0% (2) Ethyl alcohol 50.0 (3) Carboxy vinyl polymer 1.2 (4) POE hardened caster oil 1.5 (5) Diisopropanolamine 0.35 (6) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Example 1-2. Comparative Example 1-3 Commercially available ointment containing 1% indomethacin (gel-like external agent). Test Example 1-2 For the above gel bases, the pharmacological effects were examined and compared according to the carageenin oedema inhibition test. More specifically, using 5 Wooster-strain male rats 6 weeks of age, after birth as one group, first the right rear leg volume of the rat in each group was measured by a rat rear leg footpad oedema volume measuring device KM-357 (produced by Natsume Seisakusho), and then 0.2 g of a sample was applied on the right rear leg of rat. Two hours later, 0.05 ml of 1% carageenin sodium salt was subscutaneously injected at the same site, and 3 hours after the carageenin sodium salt injection, the right rear leg volume was measured to calculate foot oedema inhibition according to the following formula, with the difference in the right rear leg volume before coating of the sample being the foot oedema volume. Foot oedema inhibition (%) = Vc - Vt Vc x 100 wherein Vc and Vt represent average oedema volumes of the control group (coated with no test sample), and the group coated with test sample, respectively. The above test results are shown in Table 1-2. Carageenin foot oedema inhibition (%) Example 1-2 53.9 Comparative Example 1-2 11.2 Comparative Example 1-3 8.5 As apparent from the table, it can be understood that the gel base of Example had an excellent carageenin oedema inhibition action. Example 1-3 (1) Hydroquinone 1.0% (2) Sodium dodecylsulfate 0.2 (3) Dodecyldimethylamine oxide 0.7 (4) Purified water balance Preparation Method After (2) and (3) were dissolved in (4), (1) was added and the mixture stirred and dissolved to provide a sample. Comparative Example 1-4 (1) Hydroquinone 1.0% (2) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Example 1-3. Comparative Example 1-5 (1) Hydroquinone 1.0 (2) Urea 5.0 (3) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Example 1-3. Test Example 1-3 On the back skins of hairless mice, 3 mice in one group, 100 µl of a sample was plastered with Torii adhesive plaster for patch test (diameter: 1.6 cm). On the adhesive plaster was placed a sponge, which was further coated with a thin film of a rubber to which the adhesive plaster was adhered. After coating, each mouse was placed in a sealed vessel made of a plastic, with a delivery of air, and carbon dioxide discharged by breathing absorbed in a 50% methanolic solution of monoethanolamine. After coating, the adhesive plaster at the coated portion was removed at 24 and 48 hours for measurement of the activity in the adhesive plaster. Next, the coated portion was subjected to stripping with cellophane tape for 8 times, and the activity in the corneum adhered to cellophane tape was measured. Then, animals were sacrificed, the skin at the coated portion peeled off, and the activity in the skin measured. The remaining whole body was homogenated by a blender with an addition of 30 g of 0.5N aqueous sodium hydroxide, and a certain amount of the homogenate sampled for a measurement of the activity. Also, fetus and urine discharged up to a predetermined time were recovered for a measurement of the activity. Here, the sum of the amount discharged by breathing, the amounts of fetus and urine discharged, and the amount stored in the body was defined as the percutaneous absorption amount in body. The above test results are shown in Table 1-3. Percutaneous absorption amount in body Example 1-3 28.8% Comparative Example 1-4 4.9 Comparative Example 1-5 4.6 (after 48 hours) Examples 5-1 - 5-5 Drug Permeability Test A drug permeability test was conducted for amine oxide. Pharmaceutical samples comprising the following composition were prepared. (1) Hydroquinone 1.0% (2) Test substance 0.1% (3) Ethanol 20.0 (4) Purified water balance Preparation Method After (1) and (2) were dissolved in (3), (4) was added and mixed to provide a sample. Test Substance Tests were conducted for the following test substances. Example 5-1: Dimethylstearylamine oxide Example 5-2: Dimethylbehenylamine oxide Example 5-3: Dihydroxyethylstearylamine oxide Comparative Example 5-1 (1) Hydroquinone 1.0% (2) Ethanol 20.0 (3) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Examples 5-1 - 5-3. Test Example 5-1 For an evaluation of the percutaneous absorption promoting effect of a drug with the test substance, a drug permeability test was conducted by in vitro diffusion cell, using the enucleated skin of a hairless mouse. As the diffusion cell device, a vertical film type 2-compartment cell with a diffusion area of 2 cm 2 was employed. The whole skin layer at the back of a 10 to 15 weeks old male hairless mouse was enucleated and mounted on a diffusion cell. In the cell compartment on the medicament sample side, 2 ml of a medicament sample was placed, and 2 ml of a phosphate buffer physiological saline (pH 7.2) was placed in the cell compartment on the receptor side, and the whole cell maintained at 32°C in a thermostat tank while gently stirring both phases. After 24 hours, the receptor solution was sampled and the amount of the drug permeated by high performance chromatography to the receptor side quantitated. The results are represented in drug permeability (%). The results are shown in Table 5-1. Test substance Drug permeability Effect Example 5-1 Dimethylstearylamine oxide 44.0 Example 5-2 Dimethylbehenylamine oxide 28.6 Example 5-3 Dihydroxyethylstearylamine oxide 30.5 Comparative Examples 5-1 - 2.1 - As apparent from the table, the percutaneous absorption promoting agent of the present invention had an excellent skin permeability promoting effect of a drug, and particularly, it can be understood that water insoluble or slightly soluble amine oxides had excellent effects. Drug Percutaneous Absortpion Test Example 5-6 (1) [ 14 C]Hydroquinone 1.0% (2) Dimethylstearylamine oxide 0.1 (3) Ethanol 20.0 (4) Purified water balance Preparation Method After (1) and (2) were dissolved in (3), (4) was added and mixed to provide a sample. Comparative Example 5-2 (1) [ 14 C]Hydroquinone 1.0% (2) Ethanol 20.0 (3) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Example 5-6. Comparative Example 5-3 (1) [ 14 C]Hydroquinone 1.0% (2) Urea 5.0 (3) Ethanol 20.0 (4) Purified water balance Preparation Method After (1) was dissolved in (3), a solution of (2) dissolved in (4) was added and mixed to provide a sample. Test Example 5-2 On the back skin of hairless mice, 3 mice in one group, 100 µl of a sample was plastered with a Torii adhesive plaster for patch test (diameter: 1.6 cm). On the adhesive plaster was placed a sponge, which was further coated with a thin film of a rubber to which the adhesive plaster was adhered. After coating, the mouse was placed in a sealed vessel made of a plastic, with a delivery of air, and carbon dioxide discharged by breathing was absorbed in a 50% methanolic solution of monoethanolamine. After coating, the adhesive plaster at the coated portion was removed at 24 and 48 hours for measurement of the radioactivity in the adhesive plaster. Next, the coated portion was subjected to stripping with cellophane tape for 8 times, and the radioactivity in the corneum adhered to cellophane tape measured. Then, the animals were sacrificed, the skin at the coated portion peeled off, and the radioactivity in the skin measured. The remaining whole body was homogenated by a blender with an addition of 30 g of 0.5N aqueous sodium hydroxide, and a certain amount of the homogenate was sampled for measurement of the radioactivity. Also, fetus and urine discharged up to a predetermined time were recovered for measurement of the radioactivity. Here, the sum of the amount discharged by breathing, the amounts of fetus and urine discharged, and the amount stored in the body was defined as the percutaneous absorption amount in the body. The above test results are shown in Table 5-2. Percutaneous absorption amount in body Example 5-6 35.5% Comparative Example 5-2 4.1 Comparative Example 5-3 4.9 (after 48 hours) As apparent from the table, it can be understood that the percutaneous absorption promoting agent of the present invention had an excellent effect of absorption promotion of a drug. Example 5-7: Cream (1) Dexamethasone 0.025% (2) Propylene glycol 8.0 (3) Glycerine 5.0 (4) Fluid paraffin 1.0 (5) Diisopropyl adipate 3.0 (6) Dimethylstearylamine oxide 5.0 (7) Glycerine monofatty acid ester 1.5 (8) Preservative q.s. (9) Clay mineral (bentonite) 6.0 (10) Purified water balance Preparation Method To (6) were added (1), (4), (5), (7) and (8) and these components were dissolved and mixed by heating to 70°C. This was called composition (A). The components (2) and (3) were added to a part of (10). This was called composition (B). While composition (B) was stirred at a temperature maintained at 70°C, composition (A) was gradually added to effect preliminary emulsification, followed by emulsification by a homomixer. The resultant emulsion was added to a dispersion having added and dispersed (9) in the remainder of (10) under stirring, and cooled to obtain a cream. Comparative Example 5-4: Cream (1) Dexamethasone 0.025% (2) Propylene glycol 8.0 (3) Glycerine 5.0 (4) Fluid paraffin 1.0 (5) Diisopropyl adipate 3.0 (6) Glycerine monofatty acid ester 1.5 (7) Preservative q.s. (8) Clay mineral (bentonite) 6.0 (9) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Example 5-7. Test Example 5-3 For the creams prepared in Example and Comparative Example, the vasoconstrictive action was compared as in Test Example 1-1. The results are shown in Table 5-3. Base Average score after 4 hours Example 5-7 1.8 Comparative Example 5-4 0.9 System of Example 5-7 from which dexamethasone is removed 0 System of Comparative Example 5-4 from which dexamethasone is removed 0 As apparent from the table, it can be understood that the cream of Example 5-7 had an excellent vasoconstrictive action. Example 5-8: Gel (1) Indomethacin 1.0% (2) Ethyl alcohol 50.0 (3) Carboxy vinyl polymer 1.2 (4) Polyoxyethylene (40) hardened castor oil 1.5 (5) Dimethylbehenylamine oxide 1.0 (6) Diisopropanolamine 0.35 (7) Purified water balance Preparation Method After (1), (4) and (5) were dissolved in (2), (3) dissolved in (7) was added, followed by thorough mixing. Further, to this mixture was added (6) and the mixture stirred and mixed to obtain a gel. Comparative Example 5-5 (1) Indomethacin 1.0% (2) Ethyl alcohol 50.0 (3) Carboxy vinyl polymer 1.2 (4) Polyoxyethylene (40) hardened castor oil 1.5 (5) Diisopropanolamine 0.35 (6) Purified water balance Preparation Method According to Example 5-8. Comparative Example 5-6 Commercially available ointment containing 1% indomethacin (gel-like external agent). Test Example 5-4 For the above gel bases, the pharmacological effects were examined and compared as in Test Example 1-2 according to the carageenin oedema inhibition test. The above test results are shown in Table 5-4. Carageenin foot edema inhibition (%) Example 5-8 56.1 Comparative Example 5-5 12.0 Comparative Example 5-6 10.8 As apparent from the table, it can be understood that the gel base of Example 5-8 had an excellent carageenin oedema inhibition action. Test Example 6-1 The percutaneous absorption promotion effect of drugs with the test substance shown in Table 6-1 were evaluated as in Test Example 5-1. Test substance Drug Drug permeability (%) Example 6-5 Stearyldimethylamine oxide 0.5% Arbutin 0.3% 34% Comparaative Example 6-1 - Arbutin 0.3% 1% In the table, numerical values (%) in the column of test substance and drug show the concentrations in aqueous solution. As apparent from the results in the above table, it can be understood that the test substances (percutaneous absorption promoting agent) of Examples 6-5 according to the present invention have a remarkably excellent skin permeability promoting effect of drugs.

Claims: A percutaneous absorption promoting agent for a drug component, comprising, as the active ingredient, at least one water-insoluble or only slightly water-soluble amine oxide selected from the group consisting of: (1) dimethylstearylamine oxide, dimethyloleylamine oxide, dimethylbehenylamine oxide and methyldilaurylamine oxide; and (2) amine oxides represented by the formula (I): wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each independently represents a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, and at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 representing a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 24 carbon atoms. A percutaneous absorption promoting agent as claimed in claim 1, further comprising (i) at least one anionic surfactant or (ii) at least one anionic surfactant and at least one N-containing amphoteric surfactant. A percutaneous absorption promoting agent as claimed in claim 1, further comprising (i) at least one N-containing nonionic surfactant or (ii) at least one nonionic surfactant and at least one N-containing amphoteric surfactant. A dermatological preparation, comprising a drug component selected from prednisolone, dexamethasone, indomethacin, flufenamic acid, mefenamic acid, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, promethazine, sulfa monomethoxine, sulfamethizole, penicillin, cephalosporin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, naphthiomate, clotrimazole, cyclophosphamide, busulfan, actinomycin, morphine, codeine, nalorphine, pentazocine, aspirin, acetanilide, aminopyrine, prostaglandins, barbital, thiopental, chlorpromazine, reserpine, chlordiazepoxide, chlorzoxazone, levadope, digitoxin, digoxin, procainamide hydrochloride, dipyridamole, amyl nitrite, diazoxide, minoxydil, guanethidine nitrate, para-aminobenzoate ester, hydroquinone, arbutin, kojic acid, Vitamin C esters, parahydroxycinnamate, 8-methoxypsoralene, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 (Vitamin Q), cepharanthin, swertiamarin, oxendelone, insulin, estradiol and methyltestosterone and a percutaneous absorption promoting agent according to any of claims 1 to 3. The use of a water-insoluble or only slightly water-soluble amine oxide selected from the group consisting of: (1) dimethylstearylamine oxide, dimethyloleylamine oxide, dimethylbehenylamine oxide and methyldilaurylamine oxide; and (2) amine oxides represented by the formula (I): wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each independently represents a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, and at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 representing a straight or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 24 carbon atoms; for the manufacture of a dermatological preparation containing a drug component and having improved percutaneous absorption. A percutaneous absorption promoting agent comprising (i) lauryldimethylamine oxide and (ii) Sodium dodecylsulfate in a molar ratio (i):(ii) of 20:1 to 1:20.

Inventors: CHIBA TADAHIRO, IWATA YUHEI, MIYAZAWA KIYOSHI, MUROTANI ISAO, TAMAKI SHUYA, TAMURA UHEI, CHIBA, TADAHIRO, IWATA, YUHEI, MIYAZAWA, KIYOSHI, MUROTANI, ISAO, TAMAKI, SHUYA, TAMURA, UHEI, CHIBA, Tadahiro, c/o Shiseido Laboratories, IWATA, Yuhei, c/o Shiseido Laboratories, MIYAZAWA, KIYOSHI, C/O SHISEIDO LABORATORIES, MUROTANI, ISAO, C/O SHISEIDO LABORATORIES, TAMAKI, Shuya, c/o Shiseido Laboratories, TAMURA, UHEI, C/O SHISEIDO LABORATORIES
Applicants: SHISEIDO CO LTD, SHISEIDO COMPANY LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61K47
IPC codes: A61K47, A61K9