Cornus Officinalis Extract 5–30% Iridoid Glycosides

The ripe fruit pulp of Cornus officinalis, the Japanese cornel, is the only part used in this extract, and the seed, leaf and bark are excluded. Ethanol extraction takes up the iridoid glycosides of the pulp together with its organic acids, and the concentrate is dried to a light yellow powder.

Total iridoid glycosides are measured by HPLC, with a primary grade of 30% and a lower grade of 5%. The powder is 80 mesh and water soluble. The 30% grade fits capsules and tablets that need a small fill, while the 5% grade fits drink premixes and gummy blends.

SKU: BOT-STX-0131 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Bars & Bakery, Ethanol Extracted, Fruit & Berry, Gummies & Chews, Japanese Cornel, Standardized Extracts, Terpenoids

Iridoid Glycoside Standardization & Grades

Iridoid glycosides are a class of monoterpenoid sugar conjugates. In Japanese cornel the main members are loganin, morroniside and sweroside, with loganic acid and cornuside as further components. The botanical entity is Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc., and the extract is standardized to the class sum because the iridoids are the defining, polar fraction of the pulp and because HPLC resolves them from the sugars, the organic acids and the tannins.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
5% Iridoid Glycosides	HPLC	Drink premixes, gummy and bar blends
30% Iridoid Glycosides	HPLC	Capsules and tablets, small fill weight

Grade choice follows dose and fill weight. The 30% grade carries six times the iridoid load of the 5% grade per gram, so a capsule reaches its target in a compact fill, while the 5% grade is bulkier, sweeter and easier to dissolve in a beverage. Cornus is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker figure, the Cornus Fruit Extract Powder, as milled pulp, the Cornus Fruit Powder, and as a single compound, Loganic Acid 98%. The standardized extract is the row to use when an iridoid figure has to appear in the specification.

Iridoid Glycoside Analysis & Purity Risks

HPLC separates the iridoid glycosides on a reversed-phase column and sums the identified peaks against reference compounds, with UV detection at a low wavelength. The result is a class sum, so it depends on which glycosides are included and which references are used. A UV total would count other phenolics and the organic acids, and neither a UV figure nor a gravimetric figure can be converted into the HPLC sum.

For identity, the fingerprint of the pulp is read beside the sum. Loganin and morroniside are the characteristic peaks of Cornus officinalis, and their ratio, with sweroside and cornuside, is part of the identity statement. Loganin and morroniside serve as secondary identity markers and are followed in the fingerprint of the Cornus officinalis extract.

Purity risks follow from the botanical group. The Japanese cornel is easily confused with the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) and with other dogwoods in the trade, whose iridoid pattern and use differ. The pulp is the traded part, and the seed, which is removed in the traditional preparation, carries different chemistry and adds fiber and tannin if it is left in the feed. A named species, a stated pulp part and a fingerprint protect identity better than one percentage does.

Sample preparation needs an aqueous alcohol extraction at moderate temperature, because iridoid glycosides hydrolyze under strong acid or prolonged heat and the aglycones degrade. Samples are filtered and injected promptly.

Raw material handling also matters. The fruit is picked fully ripe, steamed or softened, pitted and dried, and heat during steaming or drying can convert part of the iridoid glycosides, which changes the loganin-to-morroniside balance of the starting pulp.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Cornus officinalis
Plant Part	Fruit & Berry
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Iridoids, Terpenoids
Common Name	Japanese Cornel, Cornus Fruit
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Iridoid glycosides (loganin, morroniside, sweroside)
Primary Grade	30% Iridoid Glycosides (HPLC)
Available Grades	5% · 30% Iridoid Glycosides (HPLC)
Appearance	Light Yellow 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

30% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 30% grade of Cornus officinalis extract reaches an iridoid target in a small fill, which suits compact capsules. The glycoside-rich powder is hygroscopic, so fill in a dry room and seal the capsules in a desiccated bottle.

5% Grade in Drink Premixes

The 5% grade dissolves readily and gives a clear to slightly hazy pale-yellow cup with a mild, sweet-sour fruit taste. Berry, hawthorn or jujube flavors suit it well, and cool water gives the cleanest dispersion. A short stir is enough, and heat is unnecessary and can dull the fruit note.

30% Grade in Tablet Blends

The 30% grade in tablets needs a dry binder and a glidant, as the hygroscopic powder softens in humid air. A film coat limits moisture pickup, and a hardness check after storage confirms the tablet has not softened. Tablets of Cornus extract tend to darken at the edges if moisture gets in, so choose a tight bottle closure.

5% Grade in Gummy Bases

Gummies take the 5% grade as a tart, fruit-forward ingredient. The organic acids of the pulp lower the gel pH, so adjust the pectin or gelatin system, and add the powder late in the cook to limit loss of the glycosides.

5% Grade in Bar Blends

Cold-pressed bars take the 5% grade in the dry fraction, mixed in before the syrup. The sweet-sour fruit note sits well with dates, nuts and cocoa, and the pale yellow tone is hidden in dark bases.

30% Grade in Sachet Dilutions

Sachets of the 30% grade call for stepwise dilution with a bulking carrier so the filler can weigh an accurate dose. Foil laminate with low moisture transmission keeps the powder free-flowing through shelf life, and a quick check of sachet weights confirms that the dilution holds across the run.

Technical & Quality Considerations

Cornus officinalis extract is a light yellow powder with a mild, fruity-acidic odor and a sweet-sour taste with some astringency. In both grades the Cornus officinalis extract retains the character of the cooked fruit pulp. It is water soluble, giving a clear to slightly hazy pale-yellow solution whose pH is on the acidic side because of the organic acids of the pulp.

Iridoid glycosides are reasonably stable at mildly acidic to neutral pH at room temperature, but they hydrolyze under strong acid, strong base and prolonged heat, and the aglycones react to form darker, polymerized products. Hot-fill and retort processes therefore lower the iridoid figure, and a trial at the target process shows the loss. Tannins in the pulp darken the extract on contact with iron.

Production begins with a screen and a premix of the pulp extract with part of the carrier, followed by a weight check on early fills. The powder absorbs water readily and cakes in humid air, so use a dry room, sealed drums and desiccant liners. Cool, dark storage preserves the shade of the lot.

Beverage use brings a few more points. The extract’s acidity and mild astringency pair well with sweeteners, and it tolerates acidic pH. Proteins bind tannins, so dairy-based drinks can haze, and a short pilot trial at the target pH is a sensible step.

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.