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HPLC determination of some frequently used parabens in sunscreems

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 International Journal of Pharmacy Teaching & Practices 2012, Vol.3, Issue 1, 219-224.

HPLC Determination of Some frequently used Parabens in Sunscreens

Belma Imamović*, Miroslav Šober and Ervina Bečić

Department for Quality Control, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

ethyl, methyl and propyl paraben does not exceed

Research Article maximal allowed concentrations (0.4% for single ester
and 0.8% for mixture of esters) in tested samples.
Please cite this paper as: Belma Imamović*, Miroslav Šober and
Ervina Bečić. HPLC Determination of Some Frequently used
Parabens in Sunscreens. IJPTP, 2012,3(1),219-224.
Keywords: parabens, HPLC, sunscreen preparation,
Corresponding Author: methanol, water

Belma Imamović
Faculty of Pharmacy
Introduction
Zmaja od Bosne bb
71000 Sarajevo
Cosmetic composition and stability are of particular
Bosnia and Herzegovina relevance in our daily life, since the average adult is
tel.+38733218680, fax.+ 38733666139 estimated to use at least seven different cosmetic products
e-mail:belma_i@yahoo.com a day. Therefore, antimicrobial chemicals that prevent
microorganisms from growing play a crucial role. We
Abstract should bear in mind that not only can a cosmetic product
be damaged by microorganisms but also by other external
Parabens are esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and belong agents, such as air and sunlight. Thus, using compounds
to group of effective preservatives commonly used in with antioxidant and light absorbent properties can help
cosmetic products, drugs and food. Their antimicrobial lengthen the life of cosmetic [1].
activity increases with increasing carbon number of the
ester group. A number of cosmetic products and skin- Parabens have been used as preservatives in food and
care products are preserved with parabens, as well in drugs about 70 years. They are class of chemicals widely
Europe as in the United States. Methyl, ethyl and propyl used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceuticals
paraben are preservatives commonly used in cosmetic industries. These compounds, and their salts, are used
products. Usage of parabens should be under great primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties.
attention, because some studies mentioned that the They can be found in shampoo, commercial moisturizers,
increased concentration can cause skin irritation and shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral
pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste..
contact dermatitis.. This paper shows optimization of
The antimicrobial activity of the parabens increases with
HPLC method for determination of methyl, ethyl and
increasing carbon number of the ester group. The
propyl paraben in sunscreen products. The advantage of individual esters differentiate in their relative antimicrobial
this analytic method is that the same stationary phase activities and therefore optimal effectiveness is generally
with different mobile phases is used for determination obtained by combinations of parabens [2]. A lot of
UV filters and parabens as well in sunscreen products. cosmetics and skin care products are preserved with
Determination was performed using reversed stationary parabens, as well in Europe as in the United States [3].
phase C8 with wavelength 254 nm. Separation was
performed using mobile phase methanol: water (60:40 Usage of parabens should be under great attention, because
w/w). Analytic method was validated through specificity, some studies mentioned that the use of preservatives can
linearity, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of also produce other undesirable effects, which can appear
quantification (LOQ). Determined limit of detection and either after first application or after years of cosmetic use.
limit of quantification for methyl, ethyl and propyl These effects range from mild skin irritation to estrogenic
paraben are respectively: LOD-0.035 μg/ml LOQ-0.116 activity, and recently the possibility that they could
μg/ml; LOD-0.061 μg/ml LOQ-0.203 μg/ml and LOD- potentially induce human breast tumors has been discussed
0.009 μg/ml LOQ-0.031 μg/ml. Coefficient of [4]. The European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery
Association, COLIPA emphasizes that parabens are
quantification for methyl, ethyl and propyl paraben are
2 2 2 hydrolysed in the skin and that none are entering the blood
respectively: R -0.9996; R -0.9988 and R -1. A content of
stream [2]. Given their application in a wide range of
parabens was examined on commercial samples available
consumables the use of parabens is regulated. Parabens are
on market in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Concentration of

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 International Journal of Pharmacy Teaching & Practices 2012, Vol.3, Issue 1, 219-224.
not included in Annex 1 of the dangerous substances list Chromatographing condition
(Council Directive 67/548/EC). The Council Directive Separation was performed using HPLC pump Shimadzu
76/768/EC of the European Community restricts the 10 Avp with autosampler and Shimadzu SPD-M10A DAD
preservation of cosmetic products with methyl, ethyl, detector (Shimadzu Europe GmbH, Dulsburg, Germany)
propyl and butyl parabens to a maximal allowed using column and mobile phases specified in Table II. Ten
concentration of 0.4% for one single ester or 0.8% for μL of each solution was injected. Separation was
esters mixture [5,6]. Thus, it is important to develop 0
performed on temperature 42 C with flow speed of 1 ml
analytic method for monitoring maximum allowed -1
min and with detection on wavelength maximal
concentrations of parabens in sunscreen products that
absorption at 245 nm. Record time was 30 min.
applies directly to skin.
Table II Column and mobile phases used in HPLC
The goal of this paper was to develop analytical method Column Mobile phase
for identification and determination of methyl, ethyl and Beckman C8 5µm 250 x (1) Acetonitrile:water-70:30
propyl paraben in sunscreen products, using the same 4.6 (2) Methanol:water-60:40
stationary phase with different mobile phase that have
been used for identification and determination UV filters Stock solution
from same preparations. [7]. This kind of analytic method
hastens and facilitates work of an analyst in quality Stock solutions parabens was prepared by accurate
control laboratory. weight of 50.0 mg methyl, 40.0 mg ethyl and 50.0 propyl
parabens into 100 ml volumetric flasks. Forty ml mixture
Developed method has been previously optimized. ethanol/water (90/10) was added in volumetric flasks and
Optimization was performed on C8 stationary phase and
the mixture was shaken approximately 2 minutes.
two different mobile phases. After optimization, analytical
Thereafter mixture ethanol/water was added in flasks up
method validation was performed according to
International Commission of Harmonization (ICH) [7] to the mark.
directives through specificity, linearity, repeatability, limit
of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). Working standards
After that, concentration of methyl, ethyl and propyl
parabens were determined in treated sunscreen products. From stock solutions of methyl, ethyl and propyl
Samples were taken from manufacturers, most widely parabens, series of working standards were made with
-1
present in Bosnia and Herzegovina. following concentrations: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 μg ml .

Materials and Methods Sample preparation

Standards
The standards included methyl p-hydroxybenzoate Samples for analysis were prepared by accurate weight of
(Sigma- Aldrich), ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (Sigma- 1 g of sample into 50 ml volumetric flask. In each flask 1
Aldrich) and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (Sigma- Aldrich). ml 2 M sulphuric acid was added and filled up to the mark
with mixture ethanol/water. Solutions were shaken
Samples approximately one minute. Thereafter solutions were
0
Chemicals and reagents transfer into water bath and kept five minute on 60 C.
All solvents were of analytical grade. The chemicals and Solutions were rapidly cool and kept into refrigerator for
reagents used were absolute ethanol, methanol, one hour. Ten μl of each sample was injected.
acetonitrile (UV-IR-HPLC; Panreac Quimica, Barcelona,
Spain), sulphuric acid (Kemika-Zagreb) and purified water Results and Discussion
for HPLC. Sunscreens were used as samples specified in
Table I. Separating conditions optimization
Table I Sunscreens used as samples
Samples used for analysis Declared parabens in samples
The objectives of this study were to determine optimal
Sample 1: Sunscreen milk SPF Methyl, ethyl and propyl p-
8 (UVA and UVB protection) hydroxybenzoate separating conditions for methyl, ethyl and propyl
Sample 2: Sunscreen cream parabens in sunscreen products. Choice for analytic
SPF 12 (UVA and UVB Methyl and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate method for determination and quantification of methyl,
protection) ethyl and propyl parabens depends of analytic method for
Sample 3: Sunscreen milk SPF Methyl, ethyl and propyl p-
determination and quantification UV filters presented in
20 (UVA and UVB protection) hydroxybenzoate
Sample 4: Sunscreen cream tested samples. The goal was to determine examined
SPF 25 (UVA and UVB Methyl and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate parabens using the same stationery phase that have been
protection) used for examined UV filters, with appropriate mobile
phase [5]. The first choice was mobile phase 1 (Table II).
Separation was performed on mixture of methyl, ethyl
and propyl parabens. Mobile phase 1 retention times are
given in Table III. It can be seen from chromatogram of

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 International Journal of Pharmacy Teaching & Practices 2012, Vol.3, Issue 1, 219-224.
mixture of paraben standards (fig.1) that resolution
between peaks is weak. Quantitative analyses of methyl, ethyl and propyl paraben
in sunscreen products was performed using stationary
Table III Retention times with mobile phase 1 phase C8 and mobile phase methanol:water-60:40.
Methyl Ethyl Propyl Separation has been performed on wavelength with
Substance
paraben paraben paraben
Retention time maximum absorption 254 nm.
3.00 3.55 3.97
(min.)
Analytical method validation

14000000
y = 59823x + 145221
12000000 R² = 0,9996
10000000
8000000

Area
Series1
6000000
Linear (Series1)
4000000
2000000
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
µg/ml

Figure 3. Calibration curve for methyl paraben

Analytic method validation was performed according ICH

directives [8] over linearity, repeatability, LOD and LOQ.
Figure 1. Chromatogram of mixture of ethyl, methyl and propyl paraben
with mobile phase1 Linearity, repeatability, detection limit and quantification
limit

Separation using mobile phase 2 gave much better 12000000 y = 55938x - 81289
R² = 0,9988
results. Retention times with mobile phase 2 are given in 10000000
Table IV. It can be seen from chromatogram of mixture 8000000
that all three parabens were successfully separated and
Area

6000000
that resolution is acceptable (see Fig.2). Series1
4000000 Linear (Series1)

Table IV. Retention times with mobile phase 2 2000000

Methyl Ethyl Propyl
Substance
paraben paraben paraben 0

Retention time 0 50 100 150 200 250

4.33 5.49 7.68 µg/ml
(min.)

Figure 4. Calibration curve for ethyl paraben

Chromatograms of different methyl, ethyl and propyl

parabens standards concentrations were recorded at
wavelength of 254 nm. Areas under the signal were
scanned and arithmetic mean was calculated for three
repetitions. For each arithmetic mean, SD and linearity
correlation coefficient were calculated (Table V, VI and
VII). Low coefficient of variation indicates good
repeatability of this method.

12000000
y = 51600x + 34691
10000000 R² = 1

8000000
Area

6000000
Series1
4000000

2000000

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
μg/ml
Figure 2. Chromatogram of mixture ethyl, methyl and propyl paraben
with mobile phase 2
Figure 5. Calibration curve for propyl paraben

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 International Journal of Pharmacy Teaching & Practices 2012, Vol.3, Issue 1, 219-224.
maximum allowed concentration (0.4% for single ester
Calibrations curve were constructed based on five and 0.8% for ester mixture
-1
concentrations in range of 10-200 μg ml (Fig. 3, 4 and
2
5). Linearity coefficient of determination (R ), LOD and
LOQ were calculated. From calibrations curves it could be
2
seen that linearity coefficient of determination (R ) were
0.9996 for methyl paraben, 0.9986 for ethyl paraben and
1 for propyl paraben (Fig. 3, 4 and 5). LOD and LOQ were
determined, according ICH [8] directives, from SD of
detector response and calibration curve slope.

Table V. Areas scanned from methyl paraben standard chromatogram

and calculate values: arithmetic mean (AM), SD and coefficient of
variation (CV). Figure 6. Chromatogram of sample 1

Concentration
RT(min) P1 P2 P3 AM SD CV%
μg/ml
10 4.46 870308 876301 873787 873465.33 3009.42 0.34
20 4.46. 1309327 1332360 1335005 1325564.00 14123.71 1.07
50 4.46. 2983602 3044067 3090036 3039235.00 53381.27 1.76
100 4.46 5924090 6116980 6124655 6055241.67 113645.46 1.88
200 4.46 11981060 12290514 12224606 12165393.33 163003.22 1.34

Table VI. Areas scanned from ethyl paraben standard chromatogram

and calculate values: arithmetic mean (AM), SD and coefficient of
variation (CV).

Concentration
RT(min) P1 P2 P3 AM SD CV %
μg/ml
10 5.43 546213 546883 550578 547891.33 2350.71 0.43
20 5.43 1049980 1082285 1080597 1070954.00 18183.61 1.70
50 5.43 2703423 2792851 2799283 2765185.67 53584.63 1.94
100 5.43 5164217 5287161 5284556 5245311.33 70241.83 1.34
200 5.43 11004733 11306733 11350750 11220738.67 188356.60 1.68

Table VII. Areas scanned from propyl paraben standard chromatogram

and calculate values: arithmetic mean (AM), SD and coefficient of
variation (CV).
Concentration
RT(min) P1 P2 P3 AM SD CV%
μg/ml
10 7.2 546448 547823 560985 551752 8025.51 1.45
20 7.2 1077120 1072397 1068184 1072567 4470.42 0.42
50 7.2 2605534 2641483 2645974 2630997 22165.64 0.84
100 7.2 5101514 5179719 5191944 5157725.67 49062.98 0.95
200 7.2 10265832 10373158 10466684 10368558 100504.98 0.97

Limit of detection and limit of quantification for methyl

paraben were: LOD-0,035 μg/ml, LOQ-0,116 μg/ml; for
ethyl paraben LOD-0,061 μg/ml, LOQ-0,203 μg/ml; and
for propyl paraben LOD-0,009 μg/ml, LOQ-0,031 μg/ml.

Quantitative analysis

Chromatograms of samples were recorded (Figs. 6-9),

and then repeatability was tested. Repeatability was
obtained by repeating every sample six times. Arithmetic
mean, SD and coefficient variation (CV) were calculated
from scanned areas (Table VIII-X). It can be seen from
tables that concentrations in the samples do not exceed Figure 7. Chromatogram of sample 2

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 International Journal of Pharmacy Teaching & Practices 2012, Vol.3, Issue 1, 219-224.

Conclusion

Presented results show that developed analytic method

enables identification and quantification of methyl, ethyl
and propyl paraben using the same stationary phase and
different mobile phase that has been used for
identification and determination of UV filters in same
samples. This fact gave great advantage to this analytic
method compared to others because it facilitates work of
analyst in an analytic laboratory. This method also satisfy
validation criterion through parameters: specificity,
Figure 8. Chromatogram of sample 3 linearity, repeatability, LOD and LOQ.

Advantage of this analytical method is in high sensitivity

and low coefficient of variation that show good
repeatability of this method. Small CV, low detection and
LOQ enable accurate and reliable quantification of
parabens in cosmetic sunscreen products. In addition to
that is the fact that sample preparation is simple and easy
feasible despite complex formulation of cosmetic
products. Because of its easy sample preparation, rate
and efficiency, this method is also applicable for parabens
identification and determination in other cosmetic
products.

References
Figure 9. Chromatogram of sample 4
[1] Amparo Salvador and Alberto Chisvert. Analysis of
Cosmetic Products, p.p.211-241, Elsevier B.V., Oxford UK
(2007).
Table VIII Areas scanned from methyl paraben sample chromatogram
and calculate values: arithmetic mean (AM), SD and coefficient of
variation (CV).

CV
Sample P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 AM SD Amount in sample %
%
1 801523 803169 808194 803162 807732 802453 804372.17 2849.841 0.35 0.110
2 2304379 2297934 2301134 2326180 2289734 2335661 2309170.33 17791.29 0.77 0.362
3 2194033 2174383 2169235 2170443 2163542 2180134 2175295 10712.22 0.49 0.339
4 2415409 2420109 2400422 2421254 2408581 2413273 2413174.67 7772.963 0.32 0.379

Table IX Areas scanned from ethyl paraben sample chromatogram and

calculate values: arithmetic mean (AM), SD and coefficient of variation
(CV).
CV
Sample P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 AM SD Amount in sample %
%
1 109872 109484 103048 109102 109372 108932 108301.67 2594.16 2.39 0.034
3 490978 474754 463899 463274 471025 468501 472071.83 10224.29 2.17 0.099

Table X Areas scanned from propyl paraben sample chromatogram and

calculate values: arithmetic mean (AM), SD and coefficient of variation
(CV).
CV
Sample P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 AM SD Amount in sample %
%
1 57783 57344 56648 57329 56621 57021 57124.33 450.53 0.797 0.004
2 970850 961182 968873 970940 971003 980010 970476.33 6007.96 0.621 0.181
3 182063 188953 179409 179354 180723 186003 182750.83 3907.30 2.14 0.029
4 1049764 1048446 1034368 1043210 1047210 1049721 1045453.17 5945.65 0.57 0.196

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 International Journal of Pharmacy Teaching & Practices 2012, Vol.3, Issue 1, 219-224.

[2] M. Borremans, J. Van Loco, P. Roos, L. Goeyens.

Validation of HPLC Analysis of 2-phenoxyethanol, 1-
phenoxypropan-2-ol, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and
benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (parabens) in cosmetic
products, with emphasis on decision limit and detection
capability. Cromatogr. 59, 47-53 (2004).

[3] Rastogi Sc, Schouten A., de Kruijf N, Weijland JW..

Contents of methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- and
benzylparaben in cosmetic products. Contact Dermatitis
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[4] Philip W. Harvey. Parabens, oestrogenicity, underarm

cosmetics and breast cancer: a perspective on a
hypothesis. J Appl. Toxicol. 23, 285-288 (2003).

[5] Bando H., Mohri S., Yamashita F., Takakura Y., Hashida
AM. Effects of skin metabolism on percutaneous
penetration of lipophilic drugs. J Pharm Sci. 86, 759-761
(1997).

[6] www.colipa.com

[7] B. Imamović, M. Šober and E. Bečić. Identification and

determination butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane in the
presence benzophenone-3 and
ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate in sunscreen preparation.
Int. J. Cosmet. Sci. 31, 383-389 (2009).

[8] International Conference on Harmonization Q2B. Text

on validation of analytical procedure: methodology,
Available at: http://www.ich.org, accessed February
2008.

AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS
Authors contributed equally to all aspects of the study.

PEER REVIEW
Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no competing
interests

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