Development of HPLC method for phenylethyl resorcinol content determination in whitening cream preparation

Abstract

This experiment aimed to develop and validate an analytical method using HPLC for phenylethylresorcinol (PR) content determination in the emulsion-cream formula, consisted five preservative agentsmethylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and phenoxyethanol. Measurement was carried out witha UV detector and using a C18 column. Previously, a selectivity test was conducted to distinguish PR from the otherwhitening agents that were hydroquinone, alpha-arbutin, kojic acid, and vitamin C. The mobile phase system wasoptimized by using acetonitrile, water, and methanol, in a gradient concentration. The optimum condition was set inthe flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, which provided a suitable chromatogram. Linearity in the range of 10.48-73.36 mg/mLshowed a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9999 and generated the detection and quantification limit of 0.7183 mg/L and2.3943 mg/L, respectively. A robustness test was performed by a variate internal and external factor changes alsoproved the proper precision. Finally, the validated method was applied as an adequate quantitative analysis todetermining phenyl ethyl resorcinol content in the whitening cream preparations.