FORMULATION OPTIMIZATION AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF SKIN CREAM CONTAINING GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS EXTRACT COMBINED WITH GLUTATHIONE AND NIACINAMIDE
Keywords:
Glycyrrhiza uralensis, formulation optimization, DoE, skin creamAbstract
Objective: The study aimed to optimize the formulation and evaluate the quality parameters of a topical skin cream containing Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) extract combined with glutathione and niacinamide. Methods: Licorice crude extract was prepared by the cold maceration method using 70% ethanol. The cream formulation was designed and optimized using the Design of Experiments (DoE) approach (Central Composite Design) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) utilizing Modde 8.0 and INForm 3.1 software. The final product was evaluated for physicochemical properties (organoleptic, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, stability) and chemical markers including Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC). Results: The optimal formulation consisted of G. uralensis extract 5%, Glutathione 2%, Niacinamide 2%, Glycerin 6.81%, Tween 80 9.12%, Lanolin 6.27%, Sunfol cow 40 17.18%, and Simugel SMS 88 3.49%. The cream exhibited a smooth texture, physiological pH (5.71), and high stability after 12 freeze-thaw cycles. The chemical markers were quantified as TPC 3.0246 ± 0.1241 mgGA/g and TFC 1.1482 ± 0.0050 mgQE/100 mg. Conclusion: A stable skin cream formulation containing Licorice extract, glutathione, and niacinamide was successfully developed using DoE. The product meets quality standards and shows promising potential for cosmetic applications.
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