Vol 11, Issue 1, 2018 Online - 2455-3891 Print - 0974-2441 FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF STABILITY OF THAI PURPLE RICE BRAN-BASED COSMETIC PRODUCTS CHAIYAVAT CHAIYASUT 1 , PERIYANAINA KESIKA 1 , POOMCHON SAKDAKAMPANAT 1 , SARTJIN PEERAJAN 2 , BHAGAVATHI SUNDARAM SIVAMARUTHI 1 * 1 Innovation Center for Holistic Health, Nutraceuticals and Cosmeceuticals, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. 2 Health Innovation Institute, Chiang Mai 50230. Email: Thailand. sivasgene@gmail.com Received: 17 August 2017, Revised and Accepted: 29 September 2017 ABSTRACT Objective: The rice bran (RB) phytochemicals are known for several pharmacological properties. The current study was aimed to extract the active principles from Thai purple RB, formulate the cosmetic products, and evaluate the physical property and stability of the products. Methods: Purple RB was extracted using 80% ethanol, and total phenolic and anthocyanin contents were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometric methods. Rice bran oil (RBO) was obtained by cold press method, and oryzanol content was determined using HPLC. The antioxidant capacity of RBO and purple rice bran extract (PRE) was assessed using spectrophotometric methods. The cosmetic products were formulated with PRE and fermented and distilled purple rice solution (FDPRS). RBO was also used as an ingredient in the formulation of solid soap. The stability of the formulations was also assessed. The heavy metal and microbial contamination were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry and plating assay, respectively. Results: The yield of PRE and RBO was 0.92 and 1.62%, respectively. The total phenolic and anthocyanin content of PRE was 305.30±6.15 mg gallic acid/g of extract and 877.33±87.73 mg cyanidin chloride/g of extract, respectively. Oryzanol content of RBO was 6.33±0.09 mg/g of RBO. RBO, PRE, and FDPRS exhibited high antioxidant capacity. The cosmetic formulations were observed to be physically stable in the heat–cool cycle, and the stability of the active compounds was not affected while stored at 30°C for 2 months. The storage temperature affected the phenolic compounds present in the cosmetic formulations, especially at 45°C. There was no significant decrease in oryzanol content of soap formulation. All the formulations were free from microbial and heavy metal contamination. Conclusion: The RB phytochemical-based cosmetic products are rich in antioxidants, stable, and free from heavy metals and microbial contamination, and further fine-tuning of the formulation may achieve the market quality. Keywords: Antioxidants, Cosmetic, Thai purple rice, Rice bran, Rice bran oil, Heavy metals. INTRODUCTION The cosmetic industries are massive, exclusively consumer-based business with the market value of about $11.7 billion as on 2016. Cosmetics are used to improve the physical appearance and prevent the natural processes that influence the exterior look of the human being, primarily, used against the aging process. Several cosmetic products claim that they have appropriate positive effects on the skin such as antiaging and skin tightening. The scientific reports and evidence about the prime compounds used in the cosmetic preparations are limited and capricious. Many cosmeceutical companies claim that they have used natural ingredients in their products [1]. Rice bran (RB) phytochemicals (flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, sterols, tocols, γ-oryzanols, and amino acids) are known for several pharmacological properties such as antioxidant [2], anti-colitis [3], anticancer, antitumor, antimutagenic [4], antidiabetes [5], ocular impairment [6], anti-aging [7], and anti-inflammatory [8]. Studies reported that rice bran extracts (RBE) are potent hair-growth inducer through 5-alpha-reductase inhibition without exhibiting any adverse effects [9,10]. Rice bran oil (RBO) is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids) and saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acids). RBOs are used in the cosmetic products, mainly in sunscreen, antiaging, and skin-lightening products, because of its bioactivities and moisturizing properties on the skin [11-15]. Thai-pigmented rice has been reported as an active ingredient in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods [16]. The cosmetic surfactant derived from rice was proved as a potent emulsifier for making cosmetic products which consist of fatty ingredients [15]. Pengkumsri et al. [2] reported the phenolic acid content of RB (RB of black, red, and brown rice) extracted using 80% ethanol. Daud et al. [17] studied the impact of different solvent (hexane, ethanol, and methanol) extraction methods on total phenolic content and antioxidant properties of RBO of different rice varieties. Daud et al. [17] stated that total phenolic content and antioxidant activity depend on both solvent extraction method and RB types. Sukrasno et al. [18] reported that ethanol extract of black RB exhibited highest phytochemical content, namely, carotenoid, flavonoid, and phenolic content, and antioxidant activity when compared to that of the other extraction methods. Pengkumsri et al. [19] reported the influence of extraction methods in the recovery of oryzanol and tocols in RBO of black, red, and brown rice. Hexane extraction showed a maximum recovery of oryzanol and tocols compared to that of the other extraction methods including cold press extraction method [19]. Cold press extraction was considered as a solvent-free and environmentally safe extraction method [20]. In the present study, the extracted RBO was used for the cosmetic formulation (solid soap). Therefore, a solvent-free technique was required for RBO extraction. Thus, the cold press extraction method was used to extract RBO. Research Article © 2018 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/4. 0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2018.v11i1.22073