Formulation and Evaluation of a Topical Emulgel Using Solanum lycopersicum Lycopene Extract for Enhanced Stability

Abstract

The study aimed to develop a novel, cost-effective extraction technique for lycopene from Lycopersicum esculentum L. fruit, formulate a stable emulgel containing lycopene as the active ingredient, and design an analytical method to quantify lycopene concentration in the emulgel. The emulgel was evaluated for stability under various storage conditions (8°C, 25°C, 40°C, 40°C + 75% RH, and 50°C) over six months. Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA, Post-Hoc, and paired t-tests at a 5% significance level showed the extraction method yielded 154.83 mg/kg of tomato fruit, with recoveries ranging from 145 to 156 mg/kg. Stability parameters' p-values were <0.05, except at 50°C from day 60 onwards. The analytical method exhibited a linear lycopene range of 1–10 mg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.11 mg/mL and quantification limit of 0.34 mg/mL. Inter-day and intra-day recoveries ranged from 94 to 105%, and relative standard deviation was 5.36%. The extraction technique proved cost-effective and reliable, while the analytical method was simple, robust, specific, and sensitive for lycopene measurement in emulgel. The formulated emulgel remained stable even at elevated temperature (40°C) and high humidity (75% RH).