Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract 5–20% Saponins

Albizia julibrissin bark extract starts from the stem bark of the Persian silk tree, known in Chinese herbal practice as he huan pi, and not from the flowers, which are a separate drug, or from the bark of other Albizia species. Ethanol extraction concentrates the triterpenoid saponins of the bark, and the liquor is dried to a light brown, water-soluble powder.

The primary grade is 20% saponins by UV, with 5% as the lower end of the range. The powder is 80 mesh. The 20% grade serves capsules and drink sticks with a small fill, while the 5% grade suits dry compounds and tea-style blends that keep more of the bark matrix.

SKU: BOT-STX-0093 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Bark & Stem, Ethanol Extracted, Saponins, Silk Tree, Standardized Extracts, Water Soluble

Saponin Standardization & Grades

The saponins of silk tree bark are oleanane-type triterpenoid glycosides, many of them acylated and carrying long sugar chains. The characteristic members are the julibrosides, which gave the species its name in the literature. The grade sums the saponin class, because the bark carries a family of related structures. The botanical entity is Albizia julibrissin Durazz., and the part used is the bark, which the master data groups with bark and stem.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
5% Saponins	UV	Dry compounds and tea-style blends
20% Saponins	UV	Capsules and drink sticks with small fill

Grade choice follows dose, fill weight and astringency. The 20% grade holds four times the saponin load per gram of the 5% grade, so a capsule reaches its target with a smaller fill. The 5% grade keeps more of the bark tannins, lignan glycosides and flavonoids and tastes drier and more astringent. Siblings of the same tree are the unstandardized Albizia Julibrissin Extract Powder and the milled Albizia Bark Powder.

A secondary marker group, the julibrosides, is recorded in the data and is described here without numbers. Buyers who compare quotes should note that a total saponin figure by UV and a julibroside figure by chromatography are different measurements and should not be placed side by side.

Bark and flower are two distinct raw materials with different traditional uses and different chemistry, and the flowers are sold separately as he huan hua. A bark extract carries the saponin and tannin profile of the stem, while the flower is richer in flavonoids. The part is therefore as important as the percentage when two quotes are compared.

Saponin Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by UV, a colorimetric method in which the saponins react with an acid reagent and the developed color is read at a fixed wavelength against a reference standard. The result is a summed value, and the choice of reference compound changes the number. An HPLC profile of individual julibrosides is a different measurement and cannot be converted into the UV figure.

The colorimetric approach responds to other compounds as well. Sugars, sterols and some phenolics can add to the color, and bark extracts are rich in tannins, so a poorly cleaned sample can read high. A sound method partitions the saponins away from the sugars and tannins before the reaction, and a high UV figure in a very dark, tannic powder deserves caution.

The fingerprint of the bark shows a group of saponin peaks at the later part of a reversed-phase run, preceded by lignan glycosides and flavonoid glycosides. Acyl groups on the saponins are sensitive to alkaline hydrolysis, so a lot that has been through basic conditions shows a shift in the saponin pattern even when the UV total changes little.

Purity risks follow from the botany. Albizia lebbeck and Albizia procera are other species used in South Asian and African trade, and their bark has different saponin and tannin profiles. The flowers and the leaves of the silk tree are separate materials. A named species, the bark as the stated part and a chromatographic profile protect identity better than a total percentage.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Albizia julibrissin
Plant Part	Bark & Stem
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Saponins
Common Name	Persian Silk Tree Bark, Mimosa Tree Bark, He Huan Pi
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Saponins (oleanane-type triterpenoid glycosides, including julibrosides, of Albizia julibrissin bark)
Primary Grade	20% Saponins (UV)
Available Grades	5% · 20% Saponins (UV)
Appearance	Light 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

20% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 20% grade delivers a saponin target in a small capsule fill. The light brown powder is hygroscopic and slightly sticky, so a dry filling room and a flow agent keep the hopper steady, and fill weights should be checked at the start of each run and after any stoppage.

20% Grade in Drink Sticks

The water-soluble high grade dissolves with one stir into a tan solution that foams lightly. Recommend gentle stirring, since the saponins foam, and use a citrus or apple flavor to cover the dry, astringent finish of the bark.

5% Grade for Tea-Style Blends

At 5% the Albizia julibrissin extract is dosed by weight in herbal tea blends, where the tannins give a dry mouthfeel and a mild bitterness. Pair it with jujube, longan or chrysanthemum, whose sweetness softens the astringency, and blend in small dry lots to avoid segregation.

5% Grade for Dry Herbal Compounds

Dry compounds use the lower grade beside other bark and root powders. Pre-mix it with a bulking agent, and screen the blend before filling because the tannic powder takes up moisture and forms small, hard lumps that resist breaking.

20% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the high grade need a dry binder and a moisture-protective film coat, since the saponin powder softens compacts in humid rooms. Run a compression trial on the full blend, and check hardness after storage at the intended climate.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The Albizia julibrissin extract is a light brown powder with a faint woody odor and a bitter, astringent taste. It is water soluble, so it dissolves into a clear to slightly hazy tan solution that foams when shaken. The foam is stable, which can complicate filling lines, and tannins can form haze with proteins in milk-based or protein-fortified drinks.

Oleanane saponins are stable at neutral pH and in dry form, but strong acid cleaves sugar chains and alkali removes acyl groups, which alters both the taste and the chromatogram. Iron darkens the tannin fraction, so use stainless steel equipment. At production scale, screen the Albizia julibrissin bark extract before dosing and pre-mix it with a portion of the carrier, since the Albizia julibrissin powder cakes in humid rooms.

Test an anti-foam approach early for liquid formats, because saponin foam is persistent. Compare each lot with a retained sample for color, odor, astringency and flow, record the date the drum was opened and clean equipment between this powder and pale products, since the tannic tint carries over visibly.

An Albizia julibrissin extract is checked by foam and astringency in a warm solution. A stable foam and a dry, puckering taste are typical of the bark saponins and tannins, while a weak foam and a sweet taste suggest dilution. Keep a retained sample of every Albizia julibrissin extract lot, and compare its saponin peak group at the late end of the chromatogram with later lots.

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.