Alisol B 98%

Triterpenoid alcohols with an epoxide ring are a feature of Alisma rhizome (Alisma orientale), and alisol B is the free alcohol of that group, isolated by ethanol extraction and purification. It is supplied as a white powder that is insoluble in water.

The Primary Grade is 98% alisol B by HPLC, in Food / Dietary Supplement Grade. The figure describes the free alcohol, not its 23-acetate, and the CAS number and InChIKey in the table apply to the alcohol only. Acetylated alisols are listed as separate products.

Alisol B Chemical Identity

Alisol B (C30H48O4, molecular weight 472.7) is a protostane triterpenoid with a ketone at carbon 3, a hydroxyl at carbon 11, a hydroxyl at carbon 23 and an epoxide ring joining carbons 24 and 25. It has one fewer water molecule than alisol A (C30H50O5) because the epoxide replaces two hydroxyl groups. Its 23-acetate, with the formula C32H50O5, is the esterified relative.

The epoxide is the feature that makes alisol B more reactive than alisol A. Acidic water opens the ring, and heating can drive related alisols to change into one another, so identity is fixed by the CAS number 18649-93-9 and the InChIKey in the table, not by a name alone.

The source is the rhizome of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juz. (Alismataceae), treated by current checklists as a synonym of Alisma plantago-aquatica; the trade name is retained. Related products are Alisol B 23-Acetate 98%, Alisma rhizome powder.

Alisol B is the form that appears when the acetyl group of alisol B 23-acetate is removed by hydrolysis, so the two compounds are chemically one step apart. Their CAS numbers differ (18649-93-9 for the alcohol and 26575-95-1 for the acetate), and a certificate that quotes the wrong number points to the wrong compound.

Typical Specifications

Specification ItemProduct Information
Natural SourceAlisma orientale rhizome
Plant PartRoot & Rhizome
ProcessingEthanol Extraction & Purification
Compound ClassTerpenoids
Chemical Name (IUPAC)(5R,8S,9S,10S,11S,14R)-17-[(2R,4S)-4-[(2R)-3,3-dimethyloxiran-2-yl]-4-hydroxybutan-2-yl]-11-hydroxy-4,4,8,10,14-pentamethyl-1,2,5,6,7,9,11,12,15,16-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
CAS Number18649-93-9
Molecular FormulaC30H48O4
Molecular Weight472.7 g/mol
PubChem CID15558620
InChIKeyGBJKHDVRXAVITG-UNPOXIGHSA-N
Purity98% (HPLC)
GradeFood / Dietary Supplement Grade
AppearanceWhite powder
Solubility / DispersibilityInsoluble in Water
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)≤5.0%
Total Ash≤5.0%
Heavy MetalsLead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
MicrobiologyTPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Alisol B Purity & Related Substances

Alisol B 98% is a single-compound grade measured by HPLC. The percentage is the alisol B peak area divided by the detected peak area, excluding water, ash and non-absorbing material. As with other protostane triterpenoids, ultraviolet absorption is weak, so methods use low-wavelength detection or a light-scattering detector, and the detector should be stated when certificates are compared.

The related substances are alisol B 23-acetate, alisol A and its 24-acetate, and the alisol C compounds. Alisol B is less polar than alisol A and more polar than its acetate, so it elutes between them on a reversed-phase column. Opening of the epoxide produces alisol A, which is the main degradation marker.

The plant origin follows from the route, which is ethanol extraction of the rhizome and then purification. A total alisol result from an extract is a different quantity, and a figure for alisol B 23-acetate cannot be read across to the free alcohol.

Release criteria are a clean chromatogram, a low water level and the absence of an alisol A peak above a defined threshold, since alisol A is the opened-ring product. Because the alcohol is more stable than the acetate toward ester hydrolysis, the main degradation route is epoxide opening, and acidity is the main driver.

Another useful comparison is between alisol B and alisol B 23-acetate in the same chromatogram. If a certificate for the alcohol shows an acetate peak above trace level, the lot has either not been fully purified or has been mixed with an acetate-rich fraction, and the buyer should ask for the chromatogram, not only for the percentage.

Buyers who compare the opened-ring product can look at Alisol A 98%, which is the main degradation marker of the epoxide.

Alisol B Solubility & Delivery

Alisol B is insoluble in water. The free hydroxyl groups give it slightly more polarity than the acetate, but the large triterpenoid skeleton dominates, so it dissolves in ethanol, methanol and other organic solvents and in lipid phases. In water the white powder floats or settles.

Because of the epoxide, delivery avoids acidic aqueous systems. Oil-phase dispersions, anhydrous co-solvent premixes, phospholipid or cyclodextrin complexes and micronized powders are the appropriate approaches in principle, and a neutral pH protects the ring in any aqueous phase.

As a dry powder alisol B is fine, may carry static charge and is stable when closed. Moisture and acid traces accelerate change, so desiccant packs and neutral carriers are used. Weighing in a dry area and quick closing of containers keeps the dose accurate.

Compared with the acetate, alisol B wets slightly better in polar carriers and is less hydrophobic, so a co-solvent premix of the alcohol in ethanol or glycol, diluted into the bulk, gives a more even dispersion than dry addition. The ethanol content of the final product is checked against the intended limits.

Application Areas

Hard capsules with neutral excipients

Alisol B is premixed with neutral excipients and filled into capsules in a dry room. Acidic partners are avoided in direct contact, and the capsules are packed with a desiccant so the epoxide stays intact through the shelf life.

Softgels with lipid carriers

A dispersion in oil with a surfactant gives a stable fill without free water. The tank is stirred and the fill is sampled during encapsulation, so the insoluble powder does not settle and the dose is the same in every softgel.

Tablets with protective coating

Tablets keep the powder at low inclusion with neutral fillers and are coated to limit contact with humid air. Content uniformity is checked on a sample from the run, and a stability sample follows the profile over time.

Powder sticks near neutral pH

Dry sticks use a dispersant, and the finished drink is formulated near neutral pH, which protects the epoxide from opening while the consumer takes the drink. Foil sachets limit moisture uptake before use, and the sachet material is checked for compatibility with the powder.

Ethanol-assisted premixes

A small ethanol or glycol premix helps wet the powder before it is added to a larger liquid phase. The solvent is chosen to match the label and the final product limits, and the premix is used within a short window after it is prepared.

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 ItemGeneral Information
SampleAvailable upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead TimeTypically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead TimeTypically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
PackagingSuitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
StorageStore 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.
DocumentationCOA · 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.

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