Smilax Glabra Extract Powder

Smilax glabra extract starts from the rhizome of a climbing vine of the Smilacaceae known in Chinese materia medica as tu fu ling. Water extraction concentrates the soluble rhizome fraction, and the liquor is dried to a light brown powder that disperses in water.

The extract is supplied at a 10:1 ratio with no marker percentage and is milled to 80 mesh. A saponin-graded extract and the pure astilbin compound are separate products, so this ratio extract is the entry for a whole-rhizome water concentrate.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0570 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Bars & Bakery, Plant Extracts, Root & Rhizome, Smilax, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Smilax glabra Identity & Plant Part

The botanical entity is Smilax glabra Roxb., a climbing evergreen vine of the Smilacaceae from southern China and Southeast Asia. The part used is the rhizome, the knobby underground stem. Leaves, stems and berries are not part of this ingredient.

The name tu fu ling is easily confused with fu ling, which is the fungus Wolfiporia cocos and an entirely different material. Other Smilax species, such as the sarsaparilla species, are also not interchangeable with this rhizome. Smilax glabra rhizome carries flavanonol glycosides such as astilbin, steroidal saponins, polysaccharides and starch, named as families only.

Smilax glabra Extract vs Graded Forms

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Rhizome Extract	Water-extracted and concentrated Smilax glabra rhizome	A whole-rhizome concentrate without a marker target is specified
Smilax glabra Extract 10–20% Saponins	Separate extract graded by saponin content	A defined saponin grade is the specification
Astilbin 98%	A single flavanonol glycoside compound sold as a pure ingredient	A single compound is the specification

The 10:1 ratio is a concentration step from dried rhizome. It is not a saponin or astilbin figure, and the Smilax glabra extract here carries no marker percentage. A buyer who needs a numeric saponin value specifies the graded extract, and one who needs a single compound specifies the pure astilbin.

The ratio extract keeps the whole water-soluble rhizome profile, including sugars and flavanonol glycosides, together. It is the practical starting point for formulas where the plant matters more than one analyte. Species, part and ratio together define what is supplied, and the marker-graded siblings sit on the other side of that line.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Smilax glabra
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Tu Fu Ling (Chinese Smilax Rhizome)
Ingredient Type	Ratio Extract
Extract Ratio	10:1
Appearance	Light brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Dispersible
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

Application Areas

Capsule Fills for Smilax Rhizome

Two-piece capsules take Smilax glabra extract as a free-flowing light brown powder once a flow aid is added. The mildly sweet, earthy rhizome taste stays masked by the shell. Fill-weight control and a disintegration test are the key checks for the finished lot.

Chinese-Style Herbal Tablets

Tablets of Smilax glabra extract use microcrystalline cellulose and a disintegrant as the base, and a film coat covers the pale brown core. Dry granulation keeps sticking down. Dry granulation avoids sticking, and hardness is checked on coated tablets.

Instant Rhizome Tea Powders

Instant powders blend the extract with honeysuckle, chrysanthemum or licorice-style flavors. The cup is a hazy tan liquid with a mild, slightly sweet taste. The dry premix is sealed quickly after filling, because sugars in the extract take up moisture.

Layered Stick-Pack Blends

Stick packs combine Smilax glabra extract with other botanical extracts, sweetener and carrier. The powder disperses well, so the stick mixes with little stirring. A sieve step and uniform blending keep the dose steady from stick to stick.

Rhizome Snack Bar Layers

Bars use the extract in the dry blend with oats, seeds and dates, where the mild earthy flavor is hardly noticed. The powder goes in before the syrup to prevent clumps, and finished bars are checked for moisture and shade.

Formulation Notes

Smilax glabra extract is a light brown powder with a faint earthy aroma and a mildly sweet, slightly astringent taste. It disperses in water to a hazy tan liquid and may foam lightly when stirred, because of the saponin fraction. Sugars and starch residues make the powder hygroscopic, so it cakes in humid air.

Weigh the Smilax extract in a dry room and premix it with a flow agent for capsule or stick lines. Flavanonol glycosides can brown under heat and alkaline conditions, so trial lots check color in the finished format. After opening, reseal the pack and store it in a closed container away from 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 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.