Abstract

QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF PARAPHENYLENEDIAMINE IN HAIR DYES USING UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR MARKETED FORMULATION

K. S. Ameer Afsal Ahamed*, A. Kaniyan, R. Manikandan, N. Mohamed Nadeem, M. Muralidhar, Dr. C. N. Nalini, M. Pharm., Ph.D.

ABSTRACT

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is extensively used in permanent hair dye formulations due to its strong colouring properties; however, excessive exposure to PPD is associated with allergic reactions and potential health risks. Hence, accurate estimation of PPD in marketed hair dye products is essential to ensure consumer safety and regulatory compliance. The present study aims to estimate the concentration of PPD in marketed synthetic and herbal hair dye formulations using a simple and validated UV-Visible spectrophotometric method. The method is based on a colorimetric reaction between PPD and Folin–Ciocalteu (FC) reagent in alkaline medium, forming a coloured complex with maximum absorbance at 650 nm. A calibration curve was constructed over the concentration range of 2–18 ppm and exhibited good linearity with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9985, confirming adherence to Beer–Lambert’s law. The developed method demonstrated satisfactory accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Five commercially available hair dye formulations were analysed using the proposed method. The results revealed noticeable variations in PPD content among the formulations. While some products complied with the labelled claims, others showed higher or lower PPD concentrations, indicating possible formulation inconsistencies. The study concludes that the developed UV-Visible spectrophotometric method is simple, cost-effective, and reliable for routine estimation of PPD in hair dye formulations. Regular monitoring of PPD content is recommended to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and consumer safety.

Keywords: Paraphenylenediamine; Hair dyes; UV-Visible spectrophotometry; Folin–Ciocalteu reagent; Marketed formulations.