Toxicity of terpenes on fibroblast cells compared to their hemolytic potential and increase in erythrocyte membrane fluidity.

Terpenes are considered potent skin permeation enhancers with low toxicity. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of the spin label 5-doxyl stearic acid (5-DSA) was used to monitor the effect of sesquiterpene nerolidol and various monoterpenes on membrane fluidity in erythrocyte and fibroblast cells. In addition, the hemolytic levels and cytotoxic effects on cultured fibroblast cells were also measured to investigate possible relationships between the cellular irritation potentials of terpenes and the ability to modify membrane fluidity. All terpenes increased cell membrane fluidity with no significant differences between the monoterpenes, but the effect of sesquiterpene was significantly greater than that of the monoterpenes. The IC(50) values for the terpenes in the cytotoxicity assay indicated that 1,8-cineole showed lower cytotoxicity and α-terpineol and nerolidol showed higher cytotoxicity. The correlation between the hemolytic effect and the IC(50) values for fibroblast viability was low (R=0.61); however, in both tests, nerolidol was among the most aggressive of terpenes and 1,8-cineole was among the least aggressive. Obtaining information concerning the toxicity and potency of terpenes could aid in the design of topical formulations optimized to facilitate drug absorption for the treatment of many skin diseases.