Humectants used in herbal cosmetic formulations MCQs With Answer

Introduction: Humectants used in herbal cosmetic formulations MCQs With Answer

This quiz set focuses on humectants in herbal cosmetic formulations tailored for M.Pharm students studying Herbal Cosmetics (MPG 204T). It covers the chemistry, mechanism of action, selection criteria, interactions with herbal actives and preservatives, formulation concerns, and analytical evaluation of humectants such as glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, and natural alternatives like honey and aloe. Questions emphasize deeper understanding—how molecular weight, hygroscopicity, and water activity influence skin hydration, stability, and sensory properties; as well as compatibility issues in herbal matrices and regulatory considerations for natural labeling. Use this to test conceptual and practical formulation knowledge relevant to research and industry.

Q1. Which primary mechanism allows humectants to increase skin hydration in topical herbal formulations?

• Formation of an occlusive film preventing water loss
• Attraction and binding of atmospheric and interstitial water due to hygroscopic groups
• Direct stimulation of epidermal cell proliferation
• Increasing lipid synthesis in the stratum corneum

Correct Answer: Attraction and binding of atmospheric and interstitial water due to hygroscopic groups

Q2. Which of the following humectants is a high molecular weight polysaccharide commonly used for long-term water retention and skin plumping in herbal cosmetics?

• Glycerin
• Sorbitol
• Hyaluronic acid
• Propylene glycol

Correct Answer: Hyaluronic acid

Q3. In herbal formulations, which natural humectant also contributes antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that can aid preservation?

• Urea
• Honey
• Propylene glycol
• Glycerin

Correct Answer: Honey

Q4. Which humectant is most associated with potential skin irritation at higher concentrations, thus requiring careful level selection in herbal products?

• Glycerin
• Propylene glycol
• Sodium PCA
• Hyaluronic acid

Correct Answer: Propylene glycol

Q5. Which parameter best describes a humectant’s tendency to draw moisture from the atmosphere into a formulation or the stratum corneum?

• Solubility parameter
• Hygroscopicity
• Partition coefficient (log P)
• Viscosity

Correct Answer: Hygroscopicity

Q6. For an herbal gel containing aqueous botanical extracts, which humectant is frequently chosen for compatibility, low irritation, and good solvent properties for actives?

• Urea
• Propylene glycol
• Polyethylene glycol 4000
• Mineral oil

Correct Answer: Propylene glycol

Q7. Which humectant also acts as a natural skin-conditioning agent and precursor of vitamin B5, commonly used in herbal cosmetics?

• Panthenol (provitamin B5)
• Glycerin
• Betaine
• Urea

Correct Answer: Panthenol (provitamin B5)

Q8. When formulating with humectants in herbal cosmetics, what is a primary concern related to microbial stability?

• Humectants always act as preservatives and increase shelf life
• Many humectants can lower water activity so much that microbes cannot grow
• Humectants can provide a substrate and reduce preservative efficacy leading to microbial growth
• Humectants neutralize herbal actives preventing contamination

Correct Answer: Humectants can provide a substrate and reduce preservative efficacy leading to microbial growth

Q9. Which analytical test is most appropriate to quantify water-binding capacity or hygroscopicity of a humectant used in a formulation?

• Karl Fischer titration for total water content
• Dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) to measure moisture uptake vs relative humidity
• UV-Vis spectroscopy for absorbance
• pH measurement

Correct Answer: Dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) to measure moisture uptake vs relative humidity

Q10. Which amino acid–derived humectant, often used in herbal formulations for natural label claims, acts as an osmolyte and improves skin moisturization?

• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sodium PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid)
• Propylene glycol
• Ethylhexylglycerin

Correct Answer: Sodium PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid)

Q11. How does molecular weight of a humectant influence its skin performance in topical herbal cosmetics?

• Higher molecular weight always increases skin penetration
• Lower molecular weight generally increases hygroscopicity and potential penetration, while higher weight increases film formation and surface water retention
• Molecular weight has no effect on humectant function
• Only ionic charge determines performance, not molecular weight

Correct Answer: Lower molecular weight generally increases hygroscopicity and potential penetration, while higher weight increases film formation and surface water retention

Q12. Which combination of humectant and occlusive is commonly used in herbal creams to maximize hydration?

• Glycerin with petrolatum
• Urea with ethanol
• Hyaluronic acid with sodium lauryl sulfate
• Propylene glycol with benzalkonium chloride

Correct Answer: Glycerin with petrolatum

Q13. Which statement best describes the effect of humectants on viscosity in hydroalcoholic herbal formulations?

• All humectants decrease viscosity independent of concentration
• Polyhydric alcohols like glycerin can increase viscosity and influence rheology depending on concentration and polymer interactions
• Humectants always precipitate herbal extracts and reduce viscosity drastically
• Viscosity is unaffected by humectants; only polymers contribute to viscosity

Correct Answer: Polyhydric alcohols like glycerin can increase viscosity and influence rheology depending on concentration and polymer interactions

Q14. Which natural humectant derived from sugar alcohols is commonly used in toothpaste and herbal oral care formulations?

• Sorbitol
• Glycerin
• Urea
• Panthenol

Correct Answer: Sorbitol

Q15. Which humectant is also a keratolytic agent at higher concentrations and can be used to improve peptide delivery in herbal actives by modifying stratum corneum?

• Urea
• Glycerin
• Hyaluronic acid
• Honey

Correct Answer: Urea

Q16. For “natural” or “organic” labelling in herbal cosmetics, which humectant is most acceptable to certification bodies due to plant origin?

• Propylene glycol (synthetic)
• Glycerin derived from vegetable oils
• Glycol ethers
• Polyethylene glycols

Correct Answer: Glycerin derived from vegetable oils

Q17. Which humectant can act as both a humectant and a penetration enhancer, often improving dermal delivery of small herbal actives?

• Glycerin
• Propylene glycol
• Sodium hyaluronate (high MW)
• Mineral oil

Correct Answer: Propylene glycol

Q18. In accelerated stability testing of a herbal cream containing humectants, which change most likely indicates humectant-mediated phase separation or crystallization?

• Decrease in pH only
• Increase in particulate matter, syneresis, or visible crystallization on cooling
• Complete color stability
• Unchanged viscosity under all conditions

Correct Answer: Increase in particulate matter, syneresis, or visible crystallization on cooling

Q19. Which of the following describes the interaction between humectants and preservatives in herbal cosmetics?

• Humectants always enhance preservative efficacy by reducing microbial growth
• Some humectants can reduce free water activity and improve preservative performance; others may protect microbes or bind preservatives reducing efficacy
• Preservatives and humectants do not interact and act independently
• Humectants chemically react and deactivate preservatives in all cases

Correct Answer: Some humectants can reduce free water activity and improve preservative performance; others may protect microbes or bind preservatives reducing efficacy

Q20. When selecting a humectant for a herbal facial serum with essential oils and polyphenolic extracts, which factor is least important?

• Compatibility with extracts and solvents to avoid precipitation
• Impact on sensory attributes like tackiness and spreadability
• Regulatory status and natural/organic certification requirements
• Ability to form rigid crystalline network at room temperature regardless of concentration

Correct Answer: Ability to form rigid crystalline network at room temperature regardless of concentration

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