Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effect of l-menthol on the absorption of ciprofloxacin (Cip)via the mucosa. METHODS: Mucosa absorption experiment and deposit effect were made on a two-cells diffusion apparatus in vitro to calculate permeation coefficients. RESULTS: With increasing of the concentration of Cip, the permeation coefficient of mucosa absorption showed a increasing tendency, but deposit effect declined significantly. After using l-menthol, the permeation coefficient of Cip showed a declining tendency. Especially at 0. 2 percent concentration of l-menthol, the decrease level was more obvious than other groups (P <0. 01), but its deposit effect was the largest. CONCLUSION: L-Menthol could decrease permeation coefficient of mucosa absorption of Cip and obviously enhance deposit effect of Cip.

Key words: l-menthol, ciprofloxacin, mucosa absorption, permeation coefficient, deposit effect