Cistanche Extract Powder

Desert cistanche is a fleshy parasitic plant, and the dried stem of Cistanche deserticola is the starting material for this cistanche extract. Water extraction concentrates the soluble stem fraction of Cistanche deserticola, and the liquor is dried to a light brown powder.

This 10:1 ratio extract of cistanche carries no echinacoside percentage figure. It is water dispersible and milled to 80 mesh. The standardized echinacoside extract, the plain stem powder and the isolated echinacoside are separate products, each with its own specification.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0019 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Bark & Stem, Bars & Bakery, Cistanche, Plant Extracts, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Cistanche deserticola Identity & Plant Part

The botanical entity is Cistanche deserticola Ma, a holoparasite of the Orobanchaceae that has no chlorophyll of its own and draws its water and nutrients from the roots of saxaul shrubs such as Haloxylon ammodendron. A 2025 report shows it can also parasitize Salsola tragus, so the host is not an identity marker. The part used is the thick, fleshy stem with scale-like leaves, traded as Cistanche herba. Flowers, seeds and the host shrub are not part of this cistanche extract, and the stem is the only part named for it in the pharmacopoeia.

The Chinese Pharmacopoeia accepts two sources for Cistanche herba, C. deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa, and the second is widely used as a substitute because its constituents are similar. Other species, such as C. salsa and C. sinensis, have been reported as adulterants in some places.

Cistanche Extract vs Powder & Standardized Grades

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Stem Extract	Water-extracted, concentrated and dried C. deserticola stem	A dispersible stem extract without a marker is wanted
Cistanche Extract 1–50% Echinacoside	Standardized extract with a defined echinacoside range	The specification names an echinacoside figure
Cistanche Powder	Dried, milled stem with no extraction	Whole-stem material with fiber is acceptable
Echinacoside 98%	Isolated single phenylethanoid glycoside	A pure single compound is required

The 10:1 figure expresses how much starting stem was concentrated into the powder. It does not give the echinacoside or acteoside level of this cistanche extract. Two lots at 10:1 can differ in both, and which Cistanche species they came from is a separate question that only the Latin name answers.

A ratio extract fits formulas where stem identity and easy dispersion matter more than a labelled marker. The standardized extract is the choice when an echinacoside range belongs on the label, pure echinacoside suits single-ingredient work, and the plain powder suits products that can accept the fiber and bulk of the dried stem.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Cistanche deserticola
Plant Part	Bark & Stem
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Cistanche, Desert Cistanche
Ingredient Type	Ratio Extract
Extract Ratio	10:1
Appearance	Light Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Dispersible
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

Application Areas

Moisture-Aware Tablets

The oligosaccharide- and polysaccharide-containing extract absorbs moisture, which can soften compacts over several weeks. Use a dry binder, and test hardness after storage rather than only on the day of compression. A desiccant in the bottle protects the finished tablets.

Herbal Drink Sachets

Instant herbal drinks carry cistanche extract with ginger, jujube or goji-style flavors that suit its mild, sweetish taste. The light brown tint fits warm-toned bases, and the powder dissolves quickly in hot water without fibrous residue.

Root-and-Herb Stick Packs

Single-serve sticks combine the extract with other root and herb extracts in pre-blended mixes. Matching particle size and water dispersibility keeps each stick uniform, and a flavored carrier covers any bitter edge in the finished stick.

Dry-Mix Bars

Bars and bites take cistanche extract into the dry mix before the binder is added. The fine powder spreads evenly, and because it is an extract it adds less bulk than dried stem powder would, which matters in compact bar formats.

Formulation Notes

The powder is light brown with a mild, sweetish, slightly earthy aroma and a faintly bitter taste. In water it disperses to a light brown, slightly hazy liquid. Phenylethanoid glycosides such as acteoside have been shown to degrade with heat, light and high pH, so keep beverages mildly acidic to neutral and limit strong illumination.

Premix the cistanche extract with a portion of the carrier before it goes into the main mixer, to prevent clumps at low dosage. Keep it away from strongly alkaline ingredients, which can darken the color and attack the glycosides. Check flow before capsule filling, and consider a glidant if the powder is slightly tacky.

After opening, reseal the container after every use and keep it out of light. A damp powder clumps and darkens, which also signals that air has reached the contents.

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.