Inula racemosa Extract 2% combined marker

The root of Inula racemosa, a tall composite herb of the western Himalaya known in Indian herbal trade as pushkarmool, is extracted with ethanol to give this Inula racemosa extract. The concentrate is dried to a light brown powder, milled to 80 mesh, that does not dissolve in water.

The grade is a single 2% combined marker figure and not a single named compound. The extract is sold for capsules, tablets and powder blends where a defined root extract is wanted, and the identity statement fixes the species and the root as the material.

SKU: BOT-STX-0175 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Capsules & Tablets, Dry Blends & Premixes, Ethanol Extracted, Root & Rhizome, Softgels & Oil Fills, Standardized Extracts

Combined Marker Standardization & Grades

Inula racemosa Hook.f. is a large-rooted species of the daisy family. Its root is rich in sesquiterpene lactones, such as alantolactone and isoalantolactone, together with other terpenoid constituents, and these compounds give the dried root its camphor-like aroma. The extract is standardized to a combined marker figure, which gives buyers one defined number for the characteristic fraction of the root and keeps the specification the same from lot to lot.

The grade is a single level, 2%, so each lot is measured against the same target. A single level also avoids the common confusion in which two suppliers quote different markers under the same species name. The combined figure should be read as a measure of the marker fraction taken together, and a lot is judged against the stated figure and not against any single compound inside it.

Inula racemosa has a close relative in the same genus, elecampane (Inula helenium), which is also grown for its root and also contains sesquiterpene lactones, but with a different profile. The two plants are traded under overlapping common names, so the extract is defined by its species. No sibling product of this species is currently listed in the catalog.

The root is the only part used. Dried Inula racemosa root is thick, dense and aromatic, and it is cleaned of soil and of rootlets before extraction. Leaf or flowering material of the same plant carries different compounds and is not part of this identity, so a figure obtained from mixed aerial and root material is not equivalent to a root-based grade.

Combined Marker Analysis & Purity Risks

A combined marker figure sums more than one compound into a single reported value. The usefulness of such a figure depends on knowing which compounds are summed and by which procedure, because adding more compounds to the sum raises the number without changing the root. For that reason lots are compared only against the same combined definition and the same procedure.

Identity is checked by the fingerprint. The lipophilic sesquiterpene lactones of the root form a characteristic cluster, and the pattern distinguishes Inula racemosa from elecampane, whose lactones occur in different proportions. The root of both species smells camphor-like and slightly sweet, but the fingerprint, not the smell, decides identity.

Purity risks are chiefly botanical. Roots of Inula helenium and other Inula species are the substitute most often met, and roots of unrelated species with a similar appearance can be mixed into dried material in the trade. Old, damp-stored root loses its lactones to oxidation, and the extract is then darker and weaker in aroma.

Sesquiterpene lactones are reactive compounds. They carry an exocyclic double bond conjugated with a lactone ring, which makes them sensitive to nucleophiles, strong base and heat, and a profile that is correct at the source can shift during poor drying or concentration. Gentle drying and controlled extraction temperatures keep the profile of the root intact.

Sample preparation affects the number. Sesquiterpene lactones dissolve in ethanol or methanol, and prolonged standing in solution can change the profile, so extracts are prepared fresh and read within a short, fixed time. A blank prepared in the same solvent is run alongside, and the reference compounds are weighed fresh for each calibration.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Inula racemosa
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Common Name	Inula, Pushkarmool
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Combined marker
Primary Grade	2% combined marker
Appearance	Light Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Insoluble in Water
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

2% Grade in Camphoraceous Capsule Fills

The 2% grade of Inula racemosa extract fits two-piece capsules at a moderate fill weight. The lipophilic powder clings to hopper walls and tamping pins, so a flow agent and a dry filling room keep fill weights steady, and a closed charge limits the camphor-like dust.

2% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 2% grade need a dry binder and a lubricant system that copes with the waxy, terpenoid-rich powder, which sticks to punches in humid rooms. A film coat covers the strong aromatic note and limits dust during handling and bottling.

2% Grade in Oil-Suspension Fills

The 2% grade disperses in an oil carrier better than in water, which suits softgel-style fills and liquid-filled capsules. Mill the powder fine before dispersion, because coarse lipophilic particles settle, and keep the fill under gentle agitation while it is dispensed.

2% Grade in Herbal Blend Powders

Dry herbal blends can carry the 2% grade beside other ground roots. The extract is much finer than cut root, so it is premixed with part of the carrier before the main charge, which prevents layering in the drum and gives a uniform color.

2% Grade in Stick-Pack Mixes

In stick packs, the 2% grade is blended with a bulking carrier so the filler can meter a dose of this water-insoluble powder. Label directions should call for stirring or shaking, and a fine grind avoids visible specks in the glass.

Technical & Quality Considerations

Inula racemosa extract is a light brown powder with a camphor-like, slightly sweet and bitter aromatic note. It does not dissolve in water, and the sesquiterpene lactones dissolve in ethanol and in lipid phases, so oil bases, alcohol-containing bases or suspension systems give a more uniform product than a plain aqueous mix.

The lactone group is the sensitive part of the molecule. Strong base opens the ring, thiol-containing ingredients can add across the double bond, and prolonged heat degrades the profile, so neutral to mildly acidic bases and moderate processing temperatures hold the marker fraction. Light and oxygen darken the powder slowly, and opaque packs limit color drift.

The dry powder takes up little moisture, but it can stick and form lumps in a warm room. Sealed packaging and a cool, dry warehouse hold it free-flowing. Closed charging and local extraction are advised, since terpenoid-rich dust is aromatic and irritating to the nose and eyes.

In production, sieve the powder, premix it with part of the carrier and check the first capsules or tablets by weight. Compatibility trials with the other ingredients are worthwhile, because reactive thiol or amine components can bind sesquiterpene lactones. An accelerated stability run with the intended pack shows early whether the color, aroma and marker fraction remain stable.

A quick check at receipt is useful. A light brown, fine powder with an aromatic, camphor-like note is expected for Inula racemosa extract, while a flat smell or a very dark shade can mean that the lot was dried too hot or stored too long. Both are visible before any assay result arrives.

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.