Pomegranate Extract 20–40% Punicalagins

Pomegranate extract is prepared from the fruit of Punica granatum, including the rind in which its large ellagitannins are concentrated, and not from the flowers, leaves or seed oil. Ethanol extraction takes up the tannins, and the liquor is dried to a yellow-brown powder.

The grade range is 20–40% punicalagins by HPLC, and the primary grade is the 40% end. The powder is 80 mesh and water soluble. The 20% grade keeps a fuller extract profile for drinks and gummies, while the 40% grade gives a higher marker load per gram for capsules and tablets.

SKU: BOT-STX-0026 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Ethanol Extracted, Fruit & Berry, Gummies & Chews, Polyphenols, Pomegranate, Standardized Extracts

Punicalagin Standardization & Grades

Punicalagins are large ellagitannins, molecules in which sugar units carry several ellagic acid and gallic acid groups. They occur as two forms of the same compound, called the alpha and beta anomers, and an HPLC method reports them together. They are the standardization target because they are the characteristic tannins of the pomegranate and are found mainly in the husk and the inner membranes, not in the juice sacs. A punicalagin grade therefore draws on the rind-bearing parts of the fruit. The botanical entity is Punica granatum L., and the part used is the fruit.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
20% Punicalagins	HPLC	Drink powders and gummy premixes
40% Punicalagins	HPLC	Capsules and tablets with small fill

The two grades behave as different materials. The 40% grade is a tannin concentrate that supplies a marker dose from a small fill. The 20% grade keeps more of the sugars, acids and other polyphenols, so pomegranate extract at this level is more soluble, lighter in astringency and easier to flavor. The fruit is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract, the Pomegranate Extract Powder, as a spray-dried fruit powder, the Pomegranate Powder, and as a freeze-dried powder, the Freeze-Dried Pomegranate Powder. The word pomegranate on a label does not say which part of the fruit was used, so the marker and the grade are the better way to compare offers.

Punicalagin Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by HPLC, which resolves the two punicalagin anomers and quantifies them against a reference standard. The data for this product lists total polyphenols and ellagic acid as secondary markers, and both appear in the chromatogram beside the named peaks. A UV or colorimetric polyphenol figure counts every tannin and phenol that responds, and it cannot be converted into an HPLC punicalagin result.

Punicalagins are hydrolyzable tannins, so water and heat break them down. Hydrolysis releases ellagic acid, which is much less soluble, and a falling punicalagin peak with a rising ellagic acid peak is a sign of that process. Sample preparation is critical because the analyte is reactive. The powder is dissolved in an acidified alcohol diluent, filtered and injected promptly, since punicalagins hydrolyze in neutral solution and the result drifts if the prepared sample stands overnight. A lot with a given punicalagin figure is therefore also a statement about moisture and thermal history, and the ratio of the two peaks is part of the fingerprint.

Purity risks follow from the botany and the chemistry. Pomegranate fruit, rind, seed, flower and bark are different materials with different tannin profiles, and the product name does not always say which was extracted. A high total polyphenol figure with little punicalagin points to a different tannin source, and a high free ellagic acid figure points to hydrolyzed or spiked material. A stated species, a fixed part and a fingerprint with both punicalagin anomers present are the first checks.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Punica granatum
Plant Part	Fruit & Berry
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Polyphenols
Common Name	Pomegranate, Punica
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Punicalagins (ellagitannins)
Primary Grade	40% Punicalagins (HPLC)
Available Grades	20% · 40% Punicalagins (HPLC)
Appearance	Yellow-Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Soluble
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

40% Grade for Dense Capsules

The 40% grade delivers a tannin dose from a small fill, which suits capsules and tablets. The yellow-brown powder is fine, astringent and hygroscopic, so fill in a dry room and use a desiccant to protect the hopper from clumping.

40% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 40% grade need a dry binder and a lubricant, because tannin powders take up moisture and can stick to punches. Keep the blend away from iron-bearing equipment, which darkens tannin on contact with the powder.

20% Grade in Drink Powders

The 20% grade dissolves in water to a clear amber drink with an astringent, tart edge. It combines with citrus, berry or tea flavors, and a sweetener balances the dryness that tannins leave on the tongue.

20% Grade in Gummy Premixes

Gummy premixes accept the 20% grade because it is water soluble and dissolves in warm syrup. Tannins can bind pectin or gelatin, so add the powder late and at a low temperature, and test the set and clarity.

40% Grade in Stick Packs

Stick packs carry the 40% grade at a low fill with a flow agent and a sweet carrier. Seal the packs in barrier film, because the hygroscopic powder will clump at the seal and dissolve unevenly in the cup.

20% Grade in Effervescent Tablets

Effervescent tablets work with a soluble tannin powder because it dissolves without grit. The acid in the tablet helps hold the color, and a dry compression room prevents the powder from reacting early with the effervescent base.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a yellow-brown powder with a faint fruity odor and a sour, astringent taste. It is water soluble, and solutions are amber to reddish-brown. The same chemistry means that pomegranate extract in a protein bar can harden the texture of the bar over time.

For production, sieve the powder before blending to break up soft agglomerates, and pre-blend it with a portion of the carrier so that it disperses without lumps. The powder takes up moisture readily, so control humidity in weighing and filling. Avoid contact with iron and copper, which form dark complexes with tannins, and use stainless steel or glass.

Hydrolysis is the main stability concern. Keep the drum sealed, avoid long hot holds in water-based systems, and compare each lot with a retained sample for color, taste and the punicalagin and ellagic acid peaks. In liquids, add the powder under agitation to a base at a moderate pH and avoid prolonged storage as a stock solution. Clean the line after a run, because tannin stains persist on plastic and steel. Storage stability depends on moisture: ellagitannins hydrolyze slowly in the presence of absorbed water, so a sealed liner and a desiccant protect the punicalagin content, and a sample from each lot tested again near the end of shelf life shows whether the packaging holds.

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.