Effects of 1,8-cineole on the dynamics of lipids and proteins of stratum corneum.

The interaction of a potent percutaneous penetration enhancer, 1,8-cineole, with the stratum corneum (SC) and DPPC membranes was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) of spin-labeled analogs of stearic acid (5-DSA) and androstanol (ASL). The EPR spectra of lipid derivatives spin probes structured in stratum corneum tissue of neonatal rat containing of 0.1-10% (v/v) 1,8-cineole in the solvent indicate an abrupt increase in membrane fluidity at around 1% 1,8-cineole. These spectra of stratum corneum membranes are characterized by the presence of two spectral components differing in mobility. Component 1 was attributed to the spin labels H-bonded to the headgroups, while component 2 possibly arose from spin labels H-bonded to water molecules or temporally non-hydrogen-bonded. With the addition of 1,8-cineole, the spin probes were transferred from the motionally more restricted component 1 to the more mobile component 2, suggesting that 1,8-cineole causes ruptures in the hydrogen-bonded network of the membrane-water interface, with consequent displacements of spin probes towards the hydrophobic core. 1,8-Cineole increased the rotational diffusion rates of component 2, whereas no significant mobility changes were observed in component 1. The EPR spectra of maleimide derivative spin label (6-MSL) covalently attached to stratum corneum proteins indicate that 1,8-cineole does not alter the dynamics of protein backbones. Instead, this terpene only increases the solvent's ability to 'dissolve' and mobilize the nitroxide side chain, which is in agreement with its low irritation response.