Bupleurum Root Extract Powder

The root of Bupleurum chinense, the northern thorowax called chaihu in Chinese herbal practice, is the only plant part behind this extract. The root is extracted in water, concentrated and dried to a light brown powder. Stems, leaves and flower umbels are not used.

This bupleurum root extract is a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker assay and no saikosaponin figure. The powder is milled to 80 mesh and disperses in water. A saikosaponin-standardized extract, a milled root powder and a pure saikosaponin are separate products.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0233 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Bars & Bakery, Bupleurum, Plant Extracts, Root & Rhizome, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Bupleurum chinense Root Source & Identity

The botanical entity is Bupleurum chinense DC., a perennial of the carrot family, Apiaceae, found across northern China and neighbouring regions. The part used is the dried root. Aerial parts, including the leaves and the yellow umbels, are not part of this bupleurum root extract.

Chaihu is a name that covers more than one plant. Chinese pharmacopoeial texts accept Bupleurum scorzonerifolium, the narrow-leaf southern chaihu, alongside B. chinense. Bupleurum falcatum is the Japanese and European species, and Bupleurum longiradiatum, large-leaf chaihu, is a non-official look-alike that is regarded as unsafe. The Latin name is the safest identification.

Triterpenoid saponins called saikosaponins, a volatile oil, plant sterols and polyacetylenes are the constituent families of the root.

Bupleurum Extract vs Related Forms

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Bupleurum Root Extract	Water extract of B. chinense root, ratio-defined	A whole-root profile without a marker figure is needed
Bupleurum Chinense Extract 5–40% Saikosaponins	Standardized extract of the same root with a defined saikosaponin range	The specification names a saikosaponin figure
Bupleurum Root Powder	Dried, milled root with no extraction	Whole-root material with fibre is wanted
Saikosaponin A 98%	Single-compound grade of saikosaponin A	The brief names the compound

The 10:1 ratio measures root going into the bupleurum root extract. It is not a saikosaponin assay. The four rows are four specification bases: a ratio extract, a saikosaponin-standardized extract, a milled root and one isolated saponin.

Saikosaponins are strong foaming agents and are relatively sensitive to acid, so a plain water extract of the root differs from a purified saponin product in behaviour as well as in label.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Bupleurum chinense
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Northern Thorowax, Chai Hu
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

Capsules for a Saponin-Bearing Extract

Bupleurum root extract fills hard capsules after a flow check at 80 mesh. A saponin-bearing extract can take up moisture, so fill in a controlled-humidity room and keep the hopper covered. If the bupleurum root powder bridges in the hopper, add a glidant and keep the hopper covered between runs.

Tablets with Moisture Control

Bring a dry binder into the tablet blend and delay the lubricant until the last minutes. Saponin-containing extracts soften as they absorb water, so compare hardness at pressing and after a week of storage. A film coat acts as a moisture barrier and covers the light brown core.

Foaming Drink Sticks

Saikosaponins foam readily, so a stick that dissolves in water or tea will build a head when stirred. Test foam height and clarity in the cup at the planned dose, and use an opaque or tinted base. Mild acid in a beverage may change the saponin profile over a long shelf life.

Stick Pack Blends

Sachets carry bupleurum root extract in a sugar or fibre carrier. Sieve it into the carrier before the mixer to spread the tan tone evenly, and run a dose-uniformity check at the start, middle and end of the filling run.

Snack Bar Premixes

In a bar, add the bupleurum root powder to the dry ingredients first and bring in the syrup afterwards. The bitter-leaning root note is easiest to place in cocoa, ginger or date bars, and a taste trial after a week shows how it develops with age.

Formulation Notes

Bupleurum root extract is a light brown powder with a mild, earthy smell and a bitter taste. In water it forms a tan dispersion that foams strongly when shaken, and the saikosaponins can break down slowly in acidic drinks. A pH check and a stability trial at the intended shelf life belong in the pilot work.

Add the powder below the liquid surface or through a funnel to limit foam. Sieving the bupleurum root powder into the carrier first gives an even dry blend from the first sachet to the last. For bupleurum root, after each scoop, close the liner firmly; an opened drum should not stand near steam or on a damp floor.

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.