Analysis of herbal cosmetics MCQs With Answer

Introduction: Analysis of herbal cosmetics MCQs With Answer is designed for M.Pharm students to strengthen their understanding of analytical strategies used in herbal cosmetic development and quality control. This resource focuses on practical and theoretical aspects such as phytochemical screening, chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, microbial testing, stability evaluation, preservative efficacy, and regulatory considerations specific to plant-based cosmetics. Questions emphasize interpretation of analytical results, selection of appropriate methods, validation parameters, and problem-solving in standardization of herbal raw materials and finished formulations. Intended as a revision and exam-prep tool, it highlights critical analytical principles required to ensure safety, efficacy, and consistent quality of herbal cosmetic products.

Q1. Which analytical technique is most appropriate for simultaneous quantification of multiple flavonoids in a herbal cream formulation?

• Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID)
• High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA)
• Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis)
• Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

Correct Answer: High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA)

Q2. For volatile essential oil assessment in a herbal hair oil, which analytical method provides both qualitative and quantitative profiling?

• Thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
• Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
• Capillary electrophoresis (CE)

Correct Answer: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Q3. During standardization of a herbal face cream, which test best evaluates preservative efficacy against bacteria and fungi?

• Microbial limit test (MLT)
• Preservative efficacy test (PET) / challenge test
• Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion
• Endotoxin test

Correct Answer: Preservative efficacy test (PET) / challenge test

Q4. Which parameter is not part of method validation for an HPLC assay of a herbal cosmetic marker compound?

• Specificity
• Linearity
• Refractive index
• Precision

Correct Answer: Refractive index

Q5. Which spectroscopic technique is most useful for identifying functional groups in a plant extract used in a cosmetic gel?

• Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
• Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
• Ultraviolet spectrophotometry (UV-Vis)
• Fluorescence spectroscopy

Correct Answer: Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

Q6. For quantifying heavy metals like lead and cadmium in a herbal cosmetic powder, the preferred analytical technique is:

• Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry
• Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
• HPLC with UV detection

Correct Answer: Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Q7. When assessing antioxidant capacity of a botanical extract intended for an anti-aging cream, which assay measures radical scavenging activity?

• TBARS assay
• DPPH free radical scavenging assay
• Microbial limit test
• Petrifilm assay

Correct Answer: DPPH free radical scavenging assay

Q8. HPTLC is frequently used in herbal cosmetic analysis primarily because it allows:

• Quantitative elemental analysis of metals
• Rapid fingerprinting and semi-quantitative multi-component analysis
• Direct microbial identification
• Assessment of rheological behavior

Correct Answer: Rapid fingerprinting and semi-quantitative multi-component analysis

Q9. Which test is essential to evaluate skin irritation potential of a new herbal lotion during preclinical safety testing?

• Primary dermal irritation test / patch test
• Antioxidant assay
• GC-MS profiling
• HPLC validation

Correct Answer: Primary dermal irritation test / patch test

Q10. In stability studies of a herbal sunscreen formulation, which parameter is most critical to monitor alongside physical appearance?

• Preservative content and microbial load
• Chromatographic retention time only
• Packaging color
• Manufacturer’s address

Correct Answer: Preservative content and microbial load

Q11. Which extraction technique is most suitable to preserve thermolabile phytoconstituents from plant material for cosmetic analysis?

• Soxhlet extraction with high boiling solvent
• Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2
• Dry ashing at high temperature
• Direct combustion

Correct Answer: Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2

Q12. When analyzing pesticide residues in a herbal raw material used for cosmetics, which sample preparation technique is commonly used prior to GC-MS?

• Liquid-liquid extraction without cleanup
• QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe)
• Dry grinding only
• Direct injection of plant sap

Correct Answer: QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe)

Q13. Which parameter best describes the ability of an analytical method to produce the same result under unchanged conditions?

• Accuracy
• Specificity
• Precision
• Sensitivity

Correct Answer: Precision

Q14. In HPLC assay of a herbal marker, system suitability tests include which of the following?

• Retention time, theoretical plates, tailing factor
• Visible color comparison only
• Microbial colony counting
• Pesticide residue analysis

Correct Answer: Retention time, theoretical plates, tailing factor

Q15. Which in vitro method can predict percutaneous absorption of an active botanical ingredient from a cosmetic formulation?

• Franz diffusion cell using human or animal skin
• Antioxidant DPPH assay
• PET challenge test
• HPTLC fingerprinting

Correct Answer: Franz diffusion cell using human or animal skin

Q16. For fingerprint profiling and relative quantification of phytochemicals in a complex herbal extract, which combination is most informative?

• UV-Vis spectrophotometry alone
• HPTLC coupled with densitometry or HPLC-MS
• Microbial limit test plus endotoxin test
• Physical appearance and pH only

Correct Answer: HPTLC coupled with densitometry or HPLC-MS

Q17. Which regulatory test ensures that a herbal cosmetic is free from high levels of bacterial endotoxins?

• Preservative efficacy test
• Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test
• HPLC potency assay
• Heavy metal analysis

Correct Answer: Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test

Q18. Which rheological parameter is most relevant to consumer perception of a herbal cream’s spreadability?

• Viscosity and thixotropy
• pH only
• Moisture content by Karl Fischer only
• Heavy metal content

Correct Answer: Viscosity and thixotropy

Q19. When validating an HPLC method, which metric evaluates closeness between measured value and true value?

• Precision
• Limit of detection
• Accuracy (recovery)
• System suitability

Correct Answer: Accuracy (recovery)

Q20. A herbal cosmetic raw material shows similar morphological features to another species; which analytical approach best confirms botanical identity?

• Macroscopic inspection only
• DNA barcoding combined with chemical fingerprinting
• UV-Vis absorbance at 254 nm only
• Preservative efficacy testing

Correct Answer: DNA barcoding combined with chemical fingerprinting

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