Qualitative and quantitative analysis of hydroquinone and mercury contents in body whitening creams

Year 2026, Volume: 30 Issue: 1, 72 - 84, 11.01.2026

Adeltrudis Adelsa Danimayostu , Anggita Rosiana Putri , Alifda Nurhayati , Jessica Jasmine , Meilsa Mutiara Zaahidah Arbidely , Nabila Dinar Wulan

https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1652422

Abstract

Bright skin is frequently considered the main beauty indicator in Indonesia. This belief drives many women, and maybe men, to strive for any strategies to make their skin brighter or become white instantly. Cosmetics business owners are no exception, even if several people have deliberately included prohibited ingredients to gain more profit. Mercury and hydroquinone are the two most prohibited ingredients often found in whitening cream. This study aims to analyze mercury and hydroquinone and mercury levels in body whitening creams sold in cosmetic stores and marketplaces in Malang City, Indonesia. Mercury was detected qualitatively using KI 0.5 N, NaOH 2 N, and HCl 2 M color reagents, respectively, while the mercury levels were quantified using a mercury analyzer. On the other side, hydroquinone was detected qualitatively by the FeCl3 color reagent and KLT method, along with the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method for quantitative measurement. The validation of method analysis of hydroquinone has fulfilled the parameters, including specificity and selectivity (retention time 2.111 ± 0.004 min; resolution 4.556 ± 0.096; tailing factor 1.446±0.1909), linearity (y = 44563x - 54717; r = 0.999), accuracy (%recovery = 97.9-102.8%), precision (%RSD = 0.38-0.94%), LOD (1.695 ppm) and LOQ (5.137 ppm). Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis methods, it can be concluded that all samples contained mercury less than < 1 mg/kg, but only one sample has been proven to contain 4.35 ± 0.24% hydroquinone.

Keywords

analysis , hydroquinone , cream , mercury , body whitening

Supporting Institution

Faculty of Medicine Universitas Brawijaya

References

• [1] Larasati L, Ramadani S, Prida E, Maelaningsih FS. Analisis Penggunaan Merkuri Pada Produk Kosmetik di Beberapa Wilayah Indonesia Menggunakan Metode Spektrofotometri. IJESPG. 2023; 1(4): 129-139. https://doi.org/10.26638/ijespg.80
• [2] Khan AD, Alam MN. Cosmetic and Their Associated Adverse Effects: A Review. J Appl Pharm Sci Res. 2019; 2(1): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.31069/japsr.v2i1.1
• [3] Ferdinand M, Ciptono WS. Indonesia's Cosmetics Industry Attractiveness, Competitiveness and Critical Success Factor Analysis. J Theor Appl Manag. 2022; 15(2): 209-223. https://doi.org/10.20473/jmtt.v15i2.37451
• [4] Sudirjo F, Sari DAK, Nugroho IA. Development of Promotional Criteria Decision Support System to Increase Sales of Scarlett Whitening Products through Digital Marketing Strategy. West Sci Inf Syst Technol. 2024; 2(01): 65-72. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsist.v2i01.827
• [5] Rohman A, Wijayanti E. Development and validation of atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of zinc and mercury analyzer for the determination of mercury in cream cosmetics. J Food Pharm Sci. 2015; 3(2): 23-26. https://doi.org/10.14499/jfps
• [6] Pillaiyar T, Manickam M, Namasivayam V. Skin whitening agents: Medicinal chemistry perspective of tyrosinase inhibitors. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2017; 32(1): 403-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2016.1256882
• [7] Dampang H, Hurria H, Jasril J. Qualitative analysis of mercury in some whitening creams in the traditional market in Palopo (article in Indonesian with an abstract in English). J Surya Medika. 2023; 9(3): 162-165. https://doi.org/10.33084/jsm.v9i3.6502
• [8] Yunianto EP, Anggoro Y. Problem analysis triangle of illegal cosmetic circulation in Indonesia Online Marketplace. J Int Conf Proceed. 2021; 4(3): 34-41. https://doi.org/10.32535/jicp.v4i3.1297
• [9] BPOM RI. Public Warning No. BHM.01.01.1.44.11.18.5410. Tentang Kosmetika Mengandung Bahan Berbahaya. BPOM RI. Jakarta. 14 November 2018.
• [10] Masub N, Khachemoune A. Cosmetic skin lightening use and side effects. J Dermatol Treat. 2022; 33(3): 1287-1292. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2020.1845597
• [11] Agrawal SS, Mazhar M. Adulteration of mercury in skin whitening creams–A nephrotoxic agent. Curr Med Res Pract. 2015; 5(4): 172-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmrp.2015.07.007
• [12] Fabian IM, Sinnathamby ES, Flanagan CJ, Lindberg A, Tynes B, Kelkar RA, Varrassi G, Ahmadzadeh S, Shekoohi S, Kaye AD. Topical Hydroquinone for Hyperpigmentation: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2023; 15(11): e48480. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.48840
• [13] Juliano CCA. Spreading of Dangerous Skin-Lightening Products as a Result of Colourism: A Review. Appl. Sci. 2022; 12(6): 3177. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12063177
• [14] Kamila AC. Undergraduate Thesis. Analysis of Hydroquinone Levels in Illegal Whitening Handbody Lotion in the Pasar Besar Area of Malang City Using the UV-Vis Spectrophotometry Method (article in Indonesian with an abstract in English). Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia, 2022.
• [15] Nisa EF. Undergraduate Thesis. Analysis of Hydroquinone Levels in Doctor-Precedented Creams in Malang City Using The UV-Vis Spectrophotometry Method (article in Indonesian with an abstract in English). Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah Malang University, Malang, Indonesia, 2024.
• [16] Nuradi. Analisis Kadar Merkuri Pada Krim Pemutih Yang Di Perjual Belikan Secara Online Di Kota Makassar. Jurnal Media Analis Kesehatan. 2017; 8(2): 118-124. https://doi.org/10.32382/mak.v8i2.849
• [17] Charismawati AN, Erikania S, Ayuwardani N. Analysis of Hydroquinone Levels In Online Bleaching Cream Using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and UV-Vis Spectrophotometry (article in Indonesian with an abstract in English). Jurnal Kartika Kimia. 2021; 4(2): 58-110. https://doi.org/10.26874/jkk.v4i2.79
• [18] AOAC International, Official Methods of Analysis, twentieth ed., AOAC International, Rockville, MD, USA 2016
• [19] Kurangi B, Jalalpure S, Jagwani S. A validated stability-indicating HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of resveratrol and piperine in cubosome and human plasma. J Chromatogr B. 2019; 1122-1123: 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCHROMB.2019.05.017
• [20] USP General Chapter <621> Chromatography. United States Pharmacopeia Convention Inc., Rockville, MD, USA December 1, 2022
• [21] Rahmadari DH, Ananto AD, Juliantoni Y. Analisis kandungan hidrokuinon dan merkuri dalam krim kecantikan yang beredar di Kecamatan Alas. SPIN Jurnal Kimia & Pendidikan Kimia. 2021; 3(1): 64-74. https://doi.org/10.20414/spin.v3i1.3279
• [22] Dwijayanti E, Susanti S. Analysis of mercury (Hg) in whitening cream distributed in Palu City by atomic absorption spectroscopy. J Appl Chem Sci. 2018; 5(1): 430-433. https://doi.org/10.35508/jacs.v5i1.1751
• [23] Anggraeni VJ. Analisis Cemaran Logam Berat Merkuri dalam Krim Pemutih Wajah yang Beredar Di Pasar Tradisional dengan Metode Spektrofotometri Serapan Atom (article in Indonesian with an abstract in English). Journal of Pharmacopolium. 2018; 1(1): 44-50. https://doi.org/10.36465/jop.v1i1.395
• [24] Mariwy A, Lerebulan F, Manuhutu JB, Nazudin. Analisis Kandungan Merkuri (Hg) Pada Beberapa Jenis Ikan Hasil Tangkapan Nelayan Di Desa Kaki Air Teluk Kayeli Pulau Buru (article in Indonesian with an abstract in English). Chem Prog. 2022; 15(2): 63–69. https://doi.org/10.35799/cp.15.2.2022.44488
• [25] Sillia N, Mariwy A, Tuasamu Y. Analisis Kandungan Merkuri (Hg) Pada Beras Hasil Panen Petani Di Beberapa Desa Kecamatan Waeapo Dan Waelata Kabupaten Buru. MJoCE. 2021; 11(1): 39–45. https://doi.org/10.30598/MJoCEvol11iss1pp39-45
• [26] Harimurti S, Mawarni A, Deriyanti IS, Widada H, Sukamdi DP. The Analytical Survey of Mercury Content in Whitening Cream Sold in Banjarnegara Regency's Traditional Market. JOTCSA. 2023; 10(1): 39-46. https://doi.org/10.18596/jotcsa.1151307
• [27] Elhag DE, Osman HO, Dahab AA. Investigation of Mercury Content in Cosmetic Products by Using Direct Mercury analyzer. Am J PharmTech Res. 2015; 5(5): 205–212.
• [28] Kusuma IKG, Hidayah N, Alawiyah T. Analisis Kandungan Logam Berat Pada Krim Pemutih di Kota Banjarmasin. J Pharm Care Sci. 2021; 1(2): 111–120. https://doi.org/10.33859/jpcs.v2i1.66
• [29] Chakti AS, Simaremare ES, Pratiwi RD. Analysis of Mercury and Hydroquinone in Whitening Cream in Jayapura (article in Indonesian with an abstract in English). JST (Jurnal Sains Dan Teknologi). 2019; 8(1): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.23887/jst-undiksha.v8i1.11813
• [30] Pawar P, Kondaskar S. Formulation and evaluation of vanishing cream using natural extracts. IJSR. 2022; 11(8): 13–16. https://doi.org/10.21275/MR22727183518
• [31] Çağlar EŞ, Üstündağ Okur N, Karasulu HY. Development and validation of an HPLC method for the determination of hyaluronic acid active substance in pharmaceutical formulation. J Res Pharm. 2022; 26(1): 112-122. https://doi.org/10.29228/jrp.108