St. John’s Wort Extract Powder

St. John’s wort, the yellow-flowered Hypericum perforatum, supplies the plant source of this extract through its flowering tops. Water extraction concentrates the soluble herb fraction, and the liquor is dried to a light brown powder at a 10:1 ratio. Roots and woody lower stems are left out of this St. John’s wort extract.

The 10:1 ratio carries no hypericin percentage. The powder is light brown, ground to 80 mesh and water dispersible. A hypericin-graded extract and the single-compound references are separate products, and other Hypericum species are different raw materials.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0078 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Gummies & Chews, Leaf & Herb, Plant Extracts, St. John's Wort, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Hypericum perforatum Herb Identity & Plant Part

The botanical entity is Hypericum perforatum L., a perennial herb of the St. John’s wort family, Hypericaceae. The part used is the aerial herb, meaning the flowering tops with their leaves. Roots and the woody lower stems are not added to this St. John’s wort extract.

The species is recognized by translucent oil glands that look like pinholes when a leaf is held to the light, and by flowers that stain red when crushed. The herb contains the red naphthodianthrone pigments hypericin and pseudohypericin, flavonoids such as hyperoside and rutin and the phloroglucinol hyperforin. A water extraction retains the polar flavonoid glycosides better than the lipophilic compounds.

Hypericum Extract vs Powder & Standardized

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 St. John’s Wort Herb Extract	Water-extracted, concentrated and dried H. perforatum herb	A dispersible herb extract without a marker is wanted
St. John’s Wort Extract 0.3% Hypericins	Extract with a defined hypericin figure	The specification names a hypericin figure
Hyperoside 98%	Single purified flavonoid	A pure compound is required, not a plant extract
Hypericin	Single purified pigment	A pure compound is required, not a plant extract

The 10:1 on a St. John’s wort extract states how much starting herb stands behind each part of powder. It does not state hypericin or hyperoside content, and the lipophilic pigments that give the plant its red oil are only partly present in a water extract.

A label that must declare hypericins needs the graded extract. The ratio extract suits blends that want St. John’s wort identity in a dispersible form. The two pure compounds are chemical references and do not replace the herb extract. Regulatory treatment of this herb differs between markets, so formulators check local rules before launch.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Hypericum perforatum
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	St. John’s Wort, Perforate St. John’s Wort
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

Herbal Capsule Blends

Capsule blends place St. John’s wort extract with other herb extracts in a mixed fill. The St. John’s wort powder is light and slightly hygroscopic, so humidity at the filling station is kept low. The extract’s tint can also vary from lot to lot, which opaque shells conceal.

Film-Coated Tablets

Film-coated tablets contain the extract as a dry brown core ingredient. The coating hides the herbal smell and slows moisture uptake, which softens the soluble solids if the pack is left in a humid warehouse. Hardness is therefore checked at the start and end of a stability study.

Tea-Style Instant Sticks

Instant sticks use the St. John’s wort extract as a dissolvable alternative to steeped herb. Hot water gives a light amber infusion with a grassy, slightly bitter taste, and sweetener or a citrus flavor makes it more acceptable. A short steeping time gives a lighter, less bitter cup than a long one does.

Dark Herbal Chew Premixes

Chew premixes accept the extract after cooking, once the base has cooled. A brown, spiced or caramel flavor hides its color and bitterness best, while pale fruit chews would look muddy. Chews also soften the bitterness, so the dose can be higher than in a drink.

Formulation Notes

The powder is light brown with a mild herbal, resinous aroma and a bitter, astringent taste. In water it disperses to an amber, slightly hazy liquid. Light speeds the fading of the red pigments, so finished products are packed in opaque containers.

Premix the powder into part of the dry base before the main blend to avoid lumps and uneven color. The soluble solids attract moisture and cake in an open pack. After opening, press out the air, close the liner tightly and store the drum in a cool, dry place away from direct light.

Flavonoids react with iron, so stainless equipment is preferred. A short compatibility check with the other ingredients is part of the first trial, since herb extracts of this kind often interact with colored actives in a blend.

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.