Cassia Seed Extract Powder

Cassia seed, the flat, glossy brown seed of Senna obtusifolia called juemingzi in Chinese herbal practice, is the only plant material behind this extract. The seeds are extracted in water, concentrated and dried to a light brown powder. Pods, leaves and cinnamon-type cassia bark are not part of the material.

This cassia seed extract is a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker assay and no anthraquinone figure. The powder is milled to 80 mesh and disperses in water. An anthraquinone-standardized extract, a milled seed powder and a single-compound grade are separate products.

Senna obtusifolia Seed Source & Identity

The botanical entity is Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby, formerly named Cassia obtusifolia, an annual or short-lived shrub of the legume family, Fabaceae, native to tropical America and now a weed across the tropics. The part used is the seed. Pods, leaves and roots are not part of this cassia seed extract.

“Cassia” is a confusing word. Cinnamon-type cassia bark comes from Cinnamomum cassia in the laurel family, and the purging senna leaf is Senna alexandrina. Chinese pharmacopoeial texts also accept the small-seeded Senna tora, called Cassia tora, as a source of juemingzi.

Anthraquinones such as chrysophanol, physcion and aurantio-obtusin, and naphthopyrone glycosides, are the constituent families of the seed.

Cassia Seed Extract vs Related Forms

FormWhat It IsChoose It When
10:1 Cassia Seed ExtractWater extract of the seed, ratio-definedA whole-seed extract profile without a marker figure is needed
Cassia Seed Extract 1–5% Total AnthraquinonesStandardized extract of the same seed with a defined total anthraquinone rangeThe specification names an anthraquinone figure
Cassia Seed PowderDried, milled seed, no extractionWhole-seed material with fibre is wanted
Aurantio-Obtusin 98%Single-compound grade of one anthraquinoneThe brief names the compound

It is not an anthraquinone assay. Free anthraquinones dissolve better in organic solvents than in water, so a water extract keeps mainly the glycoside and polar fraction of the seed.

The four rows are four specification bases: a ratio extract, an anthraquinone-standardized extract, a milled seed and one isolated compound.

Typical Specifications

Specification ItemProduct Information
Latin NameSenna obtusifolia
Plant PartSeed & Grain
ProcessingWater Extraction
Common NameCassia Seed, Sicklepod Seed, Jue Ming Zi
Ingredient TypeRatio Extract
Extract Ratio10:1
AppearanceLight Brown powder
Solubility / DispersibilityWater Dispersible
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)≤5.0%
Total Ash≤5.0%
Particle Size80 mesh
Heavy MetalsLead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
MicrobiologyTPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Application Areas

Capsules for a Seed Extract

Cassia seed extract fills hard capsules after a flow check at 80 mesh. Seed extracts that retain some mucilage can take up moisture, so fill in a controlled-humidity room and keep the hopper covered. Check the weight of early capsules in each run, and reserve the glidant for powder that bridges.

Tablets with Neutral Fillers

Anthraquinone-type colourants change tone with alkaline salts, so choose neutral fillers and compare tablet colour and hardness at pressing and after a week of storage. Build tablet strength with a dry binder and add the lubricant last, and use a film coat to cover the brown core.

Roasted-Style Tea Sticks

Juemingzi is traditionally roasted and brewed as a tea, so tea-style sticks suit the extract. It disperses in hot water to a brown, lightly hazy cup. Roasted-grain, barley-tea or chrysanthemum-style flavours match its toasted character, and a taste test at the planned dose sets the fill weight.

Stick Pack Blends

Stick packs carry cassia seed extract in a sugar or fibre carrier. Sieve the powder into the carrier before filling to spread the brown tone evenly, and check dose uniformity at the start, middle and end of the filling run.

Bar Binder Premixes

The roasted, slightly bitter note fits cocoa, nut and seed bars, and the extract goes into the dry base before the syrup. A taste trial after a week shows how the note develops during storage, and a colour check shows whether the bar darkens.

Formulation Notes

Cassia seed extract is a light brown powder with a mild, earthy smell and a faint roasted note. In water it forms a brown, slightly turbid dispersion, and the seed’s gum fraction adds a little body. Anthraquinone-type pigments change colour with pH, shifting toward red in alkaline media, so the colour of the finished product needs checking in its real base.

Mucilage in the seed means the powder hydrates in layers, so add it gradually to stirred water and give the batch time before judging viscosity. Hard water and alkaline salts are the usual cause of an unexpected colour shift.

For dry blends, premix with a portion of the carrier through a sieve. Once opened, seal the liner with the air pressed out and keep the drum cool, dry and away from steam and strong light.

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 ItemGeneral Information
SampleAvailable upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead TimeTypically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead TimeTypically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
PackagingSuitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
StorageStore 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.
DocumentationCOA · 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.

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