Non-ionic surfactants based vesicles, the so called niosomes, were formulated to entrap the curcuminoids extract. Curcuminoids extract, consisting of curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin and bisdesmethoxycurcumin, have been known to possess various activities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, resulting in widely used as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. In this study, the suitable curcuminoids niosome formulation was composed of 150 micromole of sorbitan monooleate (Span 80), cholesterol and solulan C-24 (47.5: 47.5: 5 by mole) and loaded with 11 micromole of curcuminoids. Determination for the amounts of unentrapped and entrapped curcuminoids in the niosomes suspension was performed by HPLC method. The %entrapment efficiency of total curcuminoids was greater than 90%. The mean particle size of the curcuminoids niosome was approximately 20 micrometre in diameter, and about 74% of the particles were less than 25 micrometre. The permeation of curcuminoidsfrom the curcuminoids niosome was also investigated in comparison with the curcuminoids methanolic solution, using the cobra skin as a model membrane in Franz diffusion cell. It was found the curcuminoids niosome provided the flux of curcuminoids at 0.41 microgram/hr/cm[superscript 2] at 72 hour. However, curcuminoids was not detected in the receptor compartment when the curcuminoids solution was used. It can be concluded that the developed curcuminoids niosome significantly enhances the permeation of curcuminoids through the skin, and it is therefore suitable to use in the topical skin preparations.
