Gynostemma Extract 20–80% Gypenosides

The aerial parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a climbing gourd-family vine better known as jiaogulan, are extracted with ethanol to concentrate its dammarane-type saponins in this gynostemma extract. The concentrate is dried to a light brown powder that dissolves in water and is milled to 80 mesh.

Gypenosides are measured by UV and offered as a 20–80% range, with 80% as the primary grade and 20% as the lower grade. The higher grade fits small-fill capsules and tablets, while the lower grade fits drink mixes and blends that can carry more plant matrix.

SKU: BOT-STX-0165 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Ethanol Extracted, Gummies & Chews, Jiaogulan, Leaf & Herb, Saponins, Standardized Extracts

Gypenoside Standardization & Grades

Gypenosides are triterpene saponins built on a dammarane skeleton with sugar chains at two positions, and they are the characteristic constituents of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino. Several of them share a skeleton with the ginsenosides of ginseng, although the plant belongs to the gourd family and is unrelated to ginseng. Standardizing to total gypenosides gives one figure that tracks the whole saponin fraction, whichever individual saponins dominate a harvest.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
20% Gypenosides	UV	Drink mixes, larger-fill blends
80% Gypenosides	UV	Capsules and tablets, small fill weight

Grade choice follows dose and fill weight. Reaching the same gypenoside target takes four times as much powder at 20% as at 80%, so the 80% grade is the one for compact dosage forms. The 20% grade is easier to weigh and disperse at higher inclusion, and it keeps more of the non-saponin fraction of the vine, such as flavonoids and polysaccharides, in the powder. Buyers who compare lots should compare them at the same grade and the same method. The same vine is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract without a marker figure, the Jiaogulan Extract Powder, and the single saponin is available as Gypenoside XLIX 98%.

Gypenoside Analysis & Purity Risks

The UV method for total saponins is colorimetric. The saponins react with vanillin and strong acid, and the color that develops is read at a fixed wavelength against a saponin reference standard. The result is a group total expressed as gypenosides, not a list of individual compounds. An HPLC figure for single gypenosides will come out lower and cannot be converted into the UV number, because each method counts a different set of molecules.

For identity, a chromatographic fingerprint of the extract is compared with authentic Gynostemma pentaphyllum, where a cluster of dammarane saponin peaks forms a recognizable pattern. Fingerprinting also separates the extract from other saponin-rich botanicals sold in similar grades. Because gypenosides come as a family of close structural relatives rather than one molecule, the pattern of the peaks says more about identity than any single peak does, and a lot with the right total but a flat, unfamiliar pattern deserves a second look.

Purity risks come from the botanical and from the colorimetric method. The reaction responds to any triterpene saponin, so ginseng or other saponin-bearing material mixed into the starting herb would inflate the total without adding gypenosides. Free sugars carried over from poor purification also read high in the acid reaction, which is why the 80% grade depends on a cleanup step that removes them. The stated plant part is the aerial portion of the vine, and root material is not part of this identity.

Raw material and process also shape the result. The vine is harvested in the green growing season, dried and cut before extraction, and the ethanol concentration used for extraction moves the saponin profile toward more polar or less polar members of the family. A lot tested only at the end of the process does not show these upstream differences, so the fingerprint of the finished powder is the record of how the material was made.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Gynostemma pentaphyllum
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Saponins
Common Name	Gynostemma, Jiaogulan
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Gypenosides
Primary Grade	80% Gypenosides (UV)
Available Grades	20% · 80% Gypenosides (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

80% Grade in Foam-Prone Capsule Fills

The 80% grade of gynostemma extract delivers a gypenoside target in a small fill, which suits two-piece capsules. Saponins make the powder hygroscopic and prone to trap air, so a dry filling room and a flow agent that does not whip up foam keep fill weights steady through the run.

80% Grade in Humidity-Sensitive Tablets

Tablet blends of the 80% grade need a dry binder, because the saponin-rich powder softens in humid air. Direct compression works at low inclusion, while heavier loads usually call for granulation. A film coat covers the vegetal taste of the vine and keeps moisture out.

20% Grade in Foaming Drink Mixes

The 20% grade dissolves readily and fits instant drink mixes and stick packs. Saponins foam on stirring, so a low-shear mix or a defoaming carrier keeps the glass clear, and the light brown color gives a tea-like tone to the finished drink.

20% Grade in Gummy Syrups

In gummies the 20% grade is dissolved into the syrup before depositing. Saponins lower surface tension and can leave bubbles in the mold, so deaeration of the mass and a short rest before pouring protect the surface of the finished piece.

20% Grade in Infusion Granules

Granulated blends for infusion bags can carry the 20% grade beside dried herbs. The extract dissolves faster than the cut herb, so it is dosed as a fine powder within the bag, and a slight foam on pouring is normal and not a defect.

Technical & Quality Considerations

Gynostemma extract is a light brown powder with a grassy, slightly bitter character that carries through both grades. It dissolves in water to a clear to slightly hazy brown solution, and the dissolved saponins act as surfactants, so agitation produces a stable foam. This foaming is the most visible physical trait of the extract and shapes how liquids and mixers are specified.

Gypenosides are glycosides, and their sugar chains can hydrolyze under strong acid and heat. Neutral to mildly acidic drinks are therefore a better base than hot, strongly acidic ones. The powder is stable as a dry solid but takes up moisture readily, which leads to caking and a darker shade over time.

In production, the powder is sieved before use and metered under low humidity. Dust collection is needed because fine saponin powder is irritating to the nose and eyes when airborne. For liquid formats, dissolve the extract in room-temperature water first and add acids afterward, so that local low-pH zones do not form around the powder.

Particle behavior matters in dry mixes. The powder is fine and slightly sticky when it picks up moisture, so it bridges in narrow hoppers and clings to screws in volumetric feeders. A vibrating discharge aid or a feed screw with a wider pitch keeps the dose accurate across a long run, and a moisture reading on the incoming drum confirms that the lot has not already caked in transit.

Compatibility trials are worthwhile with mineral premixes, since divalent salts can cloud a gynostemma extract solution over several days. An accelerated stability run with a moisture-barrier pack shows early whether the combined product keeps its flow, color and clarity.

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.