Coptis Extract 20–50% Berberine

Coptis extract starts from the rhizome of Coptis chinensis, the Chinese goldthread, and the leaf, stem and fibrous root are not part of the starting material. Ethanol extraction concentrates the isoquinoline alkaloids of the rhizome, and the liquor is dried to a yellow-brown powder.

The primary grade is 50% berberine by HPLC, with a 20% grade as the lower end of the range. The powder is 80 mesh and slightly soluble in water. The 50% grade serves capsule and tablet formulas that need a small fill weight, while the 20% grade suits drink premixes, gummies and blends in which the rhizome profile matters more than potency.

SKU: BOT-STX-0012 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Alkaloids, Bars & Bakery, Coptis, Ethanol Extracted, Gummies & Chews, Root & Rhizome, Standardized Extracts

Berberine Standardization & Grades

Berberine is a quaternary protoberberine alkaloid, bright yellow and intensely bitter, and it is the main alkaloid of the Coptis rhizome. The extract is standardized to it because it is the defining compound of the drug and because HPLC separates it cleanly from the other alkaloids of the rhizome. The botanical entity is Coptis chinensis Franch., and the part used is the rhizome.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
20% Berberine	HPLC	Drink premixes, gummies and rhizome-led blends
50% Berberine	HPLC	Capsules and tablets with small fill weight

Grade choice follows dose, fill weight and color. The 50% grade carries two and a half times the berberine of the 20% grade per gram, so a capsule reaches its target in a smaller fill, while the 20% grade is bulkier and gives a less intense yellow stain. Coptis is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker figure, the Coptis Rhizome Extract Powder, and as the purified compound in two forms, Berberine 98% and Berberine HCl 98%. The standardized extract is the row to use when a berberine figure has to appear in the specification.

A berberine percentage also depends on the form in which berberine is counted, as the free cation or as its chloride salt, so quotes for Coptis extract should state which. The 20% grade is the choice for a bulkier, gentler solid with the full rhizome profile, and the 50% grade is the choice when the berberine dose is the design constraint of the Coptis extract.

Berberine Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by HPLC, which separates berberine from the other alkaloids on a column and quantifies it against a reference standard. Because berberine is a cation, standards are often supplied as a salt, so a figure written as berberine and a figure written as a berberine salt are not the same number, and the form should be known whenever two results are compared. Neither a UV total nor a gravimetric alkaloid total is comparable with the HPLC figure.

The rhizome carries a family of related alkaloids, among them coptisine, palmatine, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine and columbamine, and the proportions are used as the fingerprint beside the berberine peak. Coptisine is a notable companion in this plant, and the pattern helps to tell Coptis rhizome from other berberine-bearing material.

Purity risks follow from the chemistry. Berberine is made by several unrelated plants, among them barberry, Phellodendron bark and goldenseal, and a berberine percentage alone does not show which plant supplied it. Several Coptis species are traded under the Chinese name huang lian as well. A fixed plant part, a stated species and an alkaloid fingerprint protect identity better than one percentage does.

Sample preparation for berberine is straightforward, but the alkaloid is a cation that tails on some columns, so methods use an acidic or buffered mobile phase and a column that gives a symmetric peak. Detection is by UV, and berberine absorbs strongly, which makes the assay sensitive. Because the same sensitivity applies to the companion alkaloids, their ratio can be read from the same run as an identity check on the Coptis extract.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Coptis chinensis
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Alkaloids
Common Name	Coptis, Chinese Goldthread, Huang Lian
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Berberine (protoberberine alkaloid of Coptis chinensis)
Primary Grade	50% Berberine (HPLC)
Available Grades	20% · 50% Berberine (HPLC)
Appearance	Yellow-Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Slightly Soluble in Water
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Particle Size	80 mesh
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Applications by Grade

50% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 50% grade reaches a berberine target in a small fill, which suits compact capsules. Berberine stains strongly yellow, so check that the shell does not show through at the seam, and use a dry filling room because the alkaloid salt is hygroscopic.

20% Grade for Drink Premixes

At the lower grade, premixes carry the extract at a higher gram weight. The yellow-brown solid gives a yellow, intensely bitter cup, so cocoa, coffee or strongly spiced bases are used to hide both color and taste. A short steep keeps the bitterness manageable.

20% Grade Gummy Premixes

Gummies take the lower grade only with strong flavors, because the bitterness is hard to cover in a chewable gel. Add the extract after the main cook and choose dark bases, as the yellow dye tints a pale gummy.

50% Grade in Tablet Blends

A film coat is advisable for tablets of the 50% grade, since the yellow alkaloid stains punches, dies and tablet surfaces. Dilution with a bulking agent lets the compact press evenly, and a dry binder holds it together. Confirm disintegration after storage.

20% Grade in Bar Premixes

A lower grade is bulky enough to disperse in bars. Dark chocolate and cocoa bases mask the bitter taste and the yellow stain, and the extract is blended into the dry ingredients ahead of the syrup. Cold-pressed bars protect the heat-sensitive alkaloids.

50% Grade in Sachet Blends

Sachets of the 50% grade are diluted with a bulking carrier in stages so that the filler can weigh an accurate dose. The alkaloid stains the film and the printing area, so check the pack interior for color transfer.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a yellow-brown powder with a faint woody odor and an intensely bitter taste. It is slightly soluble in water, so a solution turns yellow and hazy, with part of the alkaloid salt dissolved and the rest in suspension. The strong yellow stains equipment, gloves and surfaces, so dedicated scoops and a thorough clean-down are part of the process.

For scale-up, sieve the powder, premix it with a small share of the carrier and verify capsule fill weight at each lot change, since the dense solid is easy to over-fill. Berberine is moderately light sensitive, so protect finished goods from direct light in clear packs. Tablet formulas need a dry binder and a hardness check after storage. Keep the drum sealed, and compare each lot with a retained sample for color.

Yellow dust contaminates adjacent equipment easily, so use a closed charging system or local extraction, and wipe down balances after each weighing. Keep gloves and tools for Coptis work apart from those used on pale products, and inspect the finished blend under white light for yellow specks before release.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.