Formulation and Evaluation of Riboflavin: A Comprehensive Review

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@article{1722919,
      author = {Bivek Kumar Gupta, Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, Dr. Dharmendra Kumar},
      title = {Formulation and Evaluation of Riboflavin: A Comprehensive Review},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {878-891},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722919.pdf},
      abstract = {Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a water-soluble, photosensitive isoalloxazine derivative that serves as the biochemical precursor of the essential flavocoenzymes flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide, and is thereby indispensable to cellular oxidation-reduction metabolism, energy production, and the activation of several other micronutrients. Clinically, riboflavin is central to the prevention and treatment of ariboflavinosis, has demonstrated efficacy as a prophylactic agent in migraine, and, in a markedly different application, underpins the photochemical mechanism of ultraviolet-A corneal collagen cross-linking used to arrest progressive keratoconus. From a pharmaceutical technology standpoint, riboflavin presents a distinctive formulation challenge: it is only sparingly soluble in water, and, more importantly, it is highly sensitive to light and, to a lesser extent, heat, undergoing pH-dependent photodegradation to inactive products such as lumichrome and lumiflavin. This review consolidates current literature on the chemistry, photochemistry, biochemical role, absorption and metabolism, clinical applications, and industrial microbial production of riboflavin, before turning to the pharmaceutical formulation science required to develop a stable, bioavailable riboflavin dosage form, including preformulation and drug-excipient compatibility assessment, photostabilisation strategies such as complexation and protective packaging, tablet and novel (liposomal, nanoencapsulated) delivery system design, and the analytical and stability evaluation parameters, spanning pre-compression, post-compression, chemical, and photostability testing, that such a product must satisfy. The review is intended as a consolidated reference for formulation scientists undertaking the development and quality evaluation of riboflavin-containing pharmaceutical products.},
      keywords = {Riboflavin; vitamin B2; photodegradation; photostabilisation; tablet formulation; flavin coenzymes; migraine prophylaxis; corneal cross-linking; stability evaluation},
      month = {September},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722919}
  }