Industries producing herbal/natural cosmetics MCQs With Answer

Industries producing herbal/natural cosmetics MCQs With Answer — Introduction

This quiz collection is crafted for M.Pharm students studying Herbal Cosmetics (MPG 204T) to deepen understanding of industrial aspects of herbal and natural cosmetic production. It focuses on practical topics such as raw material sourcing, standardization, extraction methods, regulatory and certification requirements, quality control tests, preservative evaluation, packaging, stability, and sustainable sourcing. Questions emphasize real-world challenges faced by manufacturers and the quality systems used to ensure safe, effective, and compliant herbal cosmetic products. Use these MCQs to test conceptual knowledge, prepare for examinations, and reinforce industry-relevant skills important for careers in formulation, QA/QC, and regulatory affairs.

Q1. Which practice ensures proper cultivation and collection of medicinal plants for herbal cosmetic industries?

• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP)
• Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)

Correct Answer: Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP)

Q2. Which international guideline specifically addresses Good Manufacturing Practices for cosmetics?

• ISO 9001
• ISO 22716
• OECD GLP
• WHO GMP

Correct Answer: ISO 22716

Q3. What is the major quality challenge faced by industries producing herbal/natural cosmetics?

• Lack of synthetic preservatives
• Batch-to-batch variability due to natural raw materials
• Excessive regulatory harmonization
• Unlimited shelf life of herbal extracts

Correct Answer: Batch-to-batch variability due to natural raw materials

Q4. Which extraction technique is most suitable for isolating heat-sensitive botanical actives with minimal solvent residues?

• Steam distillation
• Cold maceration using water
• Supercritical CO2 extraction
• Hydrodistillation

Correct Answer: Supercritical CO2 extraction

Q5. What is the standard test performed to evaluate the effectiveness of a preservative system in a cosmetic formulation?

• Accelerated stability test
• Viscosity measurement
• Preservative Efficacy Test (PET) / Challenge test
• Patch test

Correct Answer: Preservative Efficacy Test (PET) / Challenge test

Q6. Under EU Cosmetic Regulation, who is legally responsible for ensuring a cosmetic product complies before market placement?

• Distributor
• Exporter
• Responsible Person
• Consumer

Correct Answer: Responsible Person

Q7. Which microbiological tests are commonly used to evaluate microbial quality of herbal creams and lotions?

• PCR for viruses only
• Total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total yeast and mold count (TYMC)
• Blood culture and sensitivity
• Endotoxin test only

Correct Answer: Total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total yeast and mold count (TYMC)

Q8. What is the primary analytical step in standardizing an herbal extract for cosmetic production?

• Organoleptic evaluation only
• Phytochemical profiling and assay of marker compounds
• Packaging design
• Microbial challenge test

Correct Answer: Phytochemical profiling and assay of marker compounds

Q9. Which human test is commonly used to assess the irritation and sensitization potential of a finished cosmetic product?

• Ames test
• Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT)
• Acute oral toxicity test
• Draize eye test on animals

Correct Answer: Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT)

Q10. Which chromatographic technique is widely used for fingerprinting and quality control of herbal extracts in the cosmetics industry?

• Gas chromatography with FID only
• High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
• Capillary electrophoresis only
• Paper chromatography

Correct Answer: High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)

Q11. Which packaging choice best protects light-sensitive herbal actives from degradation?

• Transparent PET jars
• Opaque, airtight containers with minimal headspace
• Glass bottles with large headspace
• Open tubs

Correct Answer: Opaque, airtight containers with minimal headspace

Q12. Which certification scheme is widely used in Europe for natural and organic cosmetic products?

• COSMOS
• USFDA Drug Approval
• ISO 14001 only
• GMP for Pharmaceuticals

Correct Answer: COSMOS

Q13. Which heavy metals are routinely tested in herbal raw materials due to toxicity concerns?

• Sodium and potassium
• Lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium
• Iron and zinc only
• Calcium and magnesium

Correct Answer: Lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium

Q14. Accelerated stability testing for cosmetics is commonly performed at which conditions?

• 4°C and 30% RH
• 25°C / ambient RH only
• 40°C ±2°C and 75% relative humidity
• 60°C and 10% RH

Correct Answer: 40°C ±2°C and 75% relative humidity

Q15. When labeling herbal/natural cosmetics, which type of claim must be avoided to comply with cosmetic regulations?

• Natural ingredient claims
• Therapeutic claims implying treatment or cure of disease
• Ingredient origin statements
• Shelf life information

Correct Answer: Therapeutic claims implying treatment or cure of disease

Q16. Which documentation is essential to trace production and ensure quality control in herbal cosmetic manufacturing?

• Marketing brochures
• Batch Manufacturing Record (BMR) and Batch Packaging Record (BPR)
• Employee resumes only
• Office stationery inventory

Correct Answer: Batch Manufacturing Record (BMR) and Batch Packaging Record (BPR)

Q17. Which assay is commonly used in industry to measure antioxidant capacity of botanical extracts?

• DPPH radical scavenging assay
• ELISA for proteins
• Hemolysis test
• Moisture content by Karl Fischer

Correct Answer: DPPH radical scavenging assay

Q18. What two supplier-related actions are essential before accepting a botanical raw material into production?

• Visual inspection only
• Supplier audit and Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
• Immediate use without testing
• Price negotiation only

Correct Answer: Supplier audit and Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

Q19. Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for medicinal plants aim primarily to ensure what?

• Rapid industrialization regardless of environment
• Quality, sustainability and traceability of plant materials
• Reduction of active constituents in plants
• Exclusive use of synthetic fertilizers

Correct Answer: Quality, sustainability and traceability of plant materials

Q20. Which microbial pathogens must be absent specifically in products intended for the eye area?

• Escherichia coli only
• Bacillus subtilis only
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
• Candida albicans only

Correct Answer: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

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