Andrographolide 98%

Kalmegh, the aerial part of Andrographis paniculata, owes its extreme bitterness to andrographolide, a labdane diterpenoid lactone. The compound is isolated by ethanol extraction and purification and supplied as a white powder that is insoluble in water, at 95% and 98% HPLC purity.

The Primary Grade is 98% andrographolide by HPLC, with 95% also supplied, in Food / Dietary Supplement Grade. The figure describes this single diterpenoid, not total andrographolides or total lactones, which is how kalmegh extracts are specified. The compound is insoluble in water and handled as a lipophilic ingredient.

SKU: BOT-PHY-0067 Category: Phytochemicals Tags: Ethanol Extracted, Kalmegh, Leaf & Herb, Plant Compounds, Softgels & Oil Fills, Terpenoids

Andrographolide Chemical Identity

Andrographolide (C20H30O5, molecular weight 350.4) is a bicyclic labdane diterpenoid. Its skeleton carries an exocyclic double bond, three hydroxyl groups and an α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactone ring, which together explain the compound’s bitterness, polarity and reactivity. The lactone is a Michael acceptor and a hydrolyzable ester, so it controls the stability profile.

The raw material is the aerial part of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees (Acanthaceae), with leaves as the richest portion; roots are not the source. Related compounds in the same plant include 14-deoxyandrographolide, 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide and the glucoside neoandrographolide, which are separate products with their own identifiers.

Buyers comparing the plant’s products can look at Andrographis paniculata extract with 10–50% andrographolides, Andrographis paniculata extract powder and kalmegh powder. None of these is a single-compound grade, and the CAS number 5508-58-7 and the InChIKey in the table identify the compound itself.

Naming varies across suppliers. Andrographolide appears as andrographolide, as andrographolides in the plural for the group, and as total lactones for an extract. A specification that quotes the CAS number 5508-58-7, the HPLC grade and the word single-compound separates the isolated diterpenoid from every mixed product on the market.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Natural Source	Andrographis paniculata aerial parts
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Ethanol Extraction & Purification
Compound Class	Terpenoids
Chemical Name (IUPAC)	(3E,4S)-3-[2-[(1R,4aS,5R,6R,8aS)-6-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-5,8a-dimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]-4-hydroxyoxolan-2-one
CAS Number	5508-58-7
Molecular Formula	C20H30O5
Molecular Weight	350.4 g/mol
PubChem CID	5318517
InChIKey	BOJKULTULYSRAS-OTESTREVSA-N
Purity	98% (HPLC)
Available Grades	95% · 98% (HPLC)
Grade	Food / Dietary Supplement Grade
Appearance	White powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Insoluble in Water
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
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

Andrographolide Purity Grades & Impurities

Both grades are measured by HPLC. The figure shows the andrographolide peak as a share of all detected peaks, and water, ash and non-absorbing material are not counted.

Grade choice between 95% and 98% follows from the intended use. The 95% grade is adequate for blends where andrographolide is one of several actives and where small amounts of the deoxy analogues are acceptable. The 98% grade is chosen when a single-compound label is intended or when the neighboring analogues must be kept below a defined level. The cost difference is usually small compared with the risk of an out-of-specification finished product.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
95%	HPLC	Cost-balanced premixes and blends
98%	HPLC	Tight single-compound specifications

The related substances are the other andrographolides: 14-deoxyandrographolide, the didehydro analogue, neoandrographolide and isoandrographolide. They differ in the hydroxyl pattern or in the sugar, so their polarities spread over a reversed-phase gradient, and a good method resolves them. Andrographolide itself is the most polar of the aglycones because of its three hydroxyl groups.

Lactone ring opening is the main degradation route. In alkaline or strongly acidic water the lactone hydrolyzes to the corresponding hydroxy acid, and heat accelerates this change. A growing early-eluting peak in a stored lot signals hydrolysis, which is why the certificate date matters. Ethanol extraction and purification is the stated route, and chlorophyll residues from the leaf are removed in purification, so a green tint would point to an incomplete step.

A total andrographolides figure measured by UV or titration is a different quantity and cannot stand in for this single-compound purity.

Andrographolide Solubility & Delivery

Andrographolide is insoluble in water, with very low solubility even compared with other diterpenoids. It dissolves in ethanol, methanol, acetone and pyridine and only sparingly in less polar solvents. The three hydroxyl groups and the lactone give it hydrogen-bonding capacity, so the compound is somewhat more polar than a pure hydrocarbon terpenoid but still poorly dissolved.

Delivery in principle uses micronized powders, co-solvent premixes, cyclodextrin or phospholipid complexes, solid dispersions and surfactant-assisted systems. The lactone is the weak point: neutral to mildly acidic conditions keep it intact, while alkaline media and prolonged heat open it. Dry storage and neutral carriers are therefore preferred.

The bitter taste is exceptional and cannot be removed by dilution at practical levels, so closed formats such as capsules and coated tablets are the natural choice. The white powder is fine and may carry static charge, and a dilution premix helps uniformity. Cleaning is simple, but residues are bitter, so shared equipment is cleaned thoroughly.

Because the compound is dosed at low weights and has an exceptionally bitter taste, cross-contamination on shared equipment is a practical risk. Dedicated scoops and a thorough wet clean between products avoid carry-over of the bitterness into other formulations, and visual inspection is easy because the powder is white.

Unlike many diterpenoids, andrographolide is dried and handled easily, but it should be protected from alkaline cleaning residues on equipment, since traces of alkali open the lactone and change the compound. Rinsing with clean water after cleaning agents and a visual check of the equipment surfaces avoids this problem before the next run.

Application Areas

Capsule and tablet formats

Andrographolide is intensely bitter, so capsules and film-coated tablets are the logical formats because they keep the taste away from the tongue. A premix with a free-flowing excipient gives reliable fill weights and tablet uniformity at low inclusion.

Softgels and lipid dispersions

A micronized andrographolide dispersion in oil with a surfactant gives a stable softgel fill. The shell contains the bitterness completely, and the tank is stirred during encapsulation to keep the insoluble powder in suspension. Fill weight is checked at the start, middle and end of the run.

Masked stick packs

Sticks stirred into water need a dispersant to hold the insoluble powder, and strong masking with flavor and sweetener, since dilution does not remove the bitterness. Taste panels check the finished drink before release. Foil sachets keep moisture away from the powder before use.

Cyclodextrin and solid-dispersion premixes

Complexation with cyclodextrin or a polymer matrix raises the apparent solubility and can reduce the bitterness. The complex is characterized by HPLC, and the stoichiometry is recorded for each lot. A stability sample from each lot shows whether the complex holds over the shelf life.

Diterpenoid combination blends

Andrographolide is combined with other andrographolides or kalmegh powder in capsules. Each compound is assayed separately because percentages from different compounds cannot be added, and the blend is checked for uniformity. The result is recorded for each lot before release.

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.