Scales of shed king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) skin from the dorsal portions, (SSS) and human breast epidermis (HE) were used as barrier membranes for comparison in an in vitro drug permeation study of nine active compounds (MW range 150-300 g mol -1 , pK a 3-10). Each compound, saturated in a donor solution at pH 4.0 or 5.6, permeated through the barrier membrane, fully hydrated. A receptor solution at pH 7.4 was sampled for quantification at its λ max by UV-Visible spectrophotometry and/or HPLC. The permeability coefficients of nine compounds were correlated to the n-octanol/water partition coefficients of these compounds. The permeability coefficient of these compounds using HE and SSS was correlated. Scales of shed skin from the dorsal portions of king cobras were shown to be well correlated to the human breast epidermis in this in vitro aqueous permeation study of these compounds.
Scales of the dorsal portions of shed skin of king cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) was used as the barrier membrane for in vitro permeation of nicotine and phenol at toxic or irritable concentration levels. The scales were placed between solutions of nicotine or phenol in a donor solution at pH 5.6 and a receptor solution at pH 7.4. Cumulative amounts of nicotine and phenol permeated, measured by UV-spectrophotometry which was checked by HPLC, showed a linear relationship with time (r 2 > 0.99), giving permeation rates of 3.76, 8241.98 µg cm -2 h -1 and permeability coefficients of 0.38×10 -3 , 90.2×10 -3 cm h -1 , respectively. Photomicrographs of the scales by scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed 3 layers of which the innermost acting as the permeation barrier. Nicotine and phenol passed the micropits of the outer layer of the scales into the middle space where the compounds being reserved and then permeated the innermost layer of the skin. It is likely that this might be the pathway that these dose-dependent compounds were absorbed through snake skins.
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