Physical and Chemical Stability of Formulations Loaded with Taxifolin Tetra-octanoate

Abstract

Chemically stable ester derivatives of taxifolin have become a focus of interest for their role in the satisfactory effects on human health. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of different formulations containing 0.02% taxifolin tetra-octanoate, which was proved to possess higher inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity compared with taxifolin in a cell-free system. In the studies of physical stability, a Brookfield viscometer was used to determine rheological behavior of formulations containing taxifolin tetra-octanoate, and a portable pH meter was used to determine pH change. Moreover, chemical stability was determined by HPLC with UV detection. Formulations were evaluated for 12 weeks stored at 25 and 40°C. Results showed that storage time had no significant influence on viscosity of the formulations containing taxifolin tetra-octanoate, and pH value was relatively stable, which was within the limits of normal skin pH range. In the chemical stability studies, taxifolin tetra-octanoate in the essence formulation was most unstable at 40°C with about 81% degradation in 12 weeks of storage, however, the percentage of remaining taxifolin tetra-octanoate in cream formulation stored for 12 weeks at 25°C was the highest, about 93%. The results in this study may contribute to the development of more stable formulations containing taxifolin tetra-octanoate.

Graphical Abstract