Atractylodes Lancea Extract 1–10% Volatile Oil / Atractylodin

The rhizome of Atractylodes lancea, the spear-leaved atractylodes known as cang zhu in Chinese herbal practice, is the source of this extract, which does not use the bai zhu rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala, a separate drug. Ethanol extraction brings out the volatile oil with its polyacetylene and sesquiterpenoid components, and the liquor is dried to a light brown powder.

The primary grade is 10% atractylodin by HPLC, with 1% as the lower end of the range. The powder is 80 mesh and insoluble in water. The 10% grade serves softgels, capsules and tablets with a small fill, while the 1% grade suits dry blends that keep more of the rhizome matrix.

SKU: BOT-STX-0100 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Atractylodes, Ethanol Extracted, Root & Rhizome, Softgels & Oil Fills, Standardized Extracts, Terpenoids

Atractylodin Standardization & Grades

Atractylodin is a furan-containing polyacetylene, a yellowish, light-sensitive compound that, with beta-eudesmol, hinesol and atractylon, makes up the characteristic volatile oil of cang zhu. The grade is defined by atractylodin because it is the signature of this species and can be quantified by HPLC. The botanical entity is Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., and the part used is the rhizome, in which the oil sits in small cells that show as reddish spots on a cut surface.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
1% Atractylodin	HPLC	Dry blends keeping the rhizome matrix
10% Atractylodin	HPLC	Softgels, capsules and tablets with small fill

Grade choice follows dose, fill weight and the aroma of the oil. The 10% grade carries ten times the atractylodin load per gram of the 1% grade, so it reaches a target in a small fill and is more aromatic and oily. The 1% grade keeps more of the starch and polysaccharides of the rhizome and is paler, drier and bulkier. Siblings from the same plant are the unstandardized Atractylodes Rhizome Extract Powder, the milled Atractylodes Root Powder and the purified Atractylon 98%. The bai zhu species is covered by the sesquiterpene-graded Atractylodes Macrocephala Extract 2–10% Sesquiterpenes.

The data record three further markers, total volatile oil, atractylodin and beta-eudesmol, in the secondary field. They are described here without numbers. Buyers who compare Atractylodes lancea extract quotes should check whether the figure refers to atractylodin or to total volatile oil, because the two are different measurements and the second is larger.

The title of this product also mentions volatile oil, but the grade is expressed on atractylodin. An aqueous decoction of cang zhu does not contain the volatile oil, which is lipophilic, so a water-based product cannot carry this specification.

Atractylodin Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by HPLC, which separates atractylodin from the related polyacetylenes, beta-eudesmol and hinesol on a reversed-phase column, identifies each peak by retention time and UV spectrum and quantifies against a reference standard. Atractylodin has a strong characteristic UV absorption, so it is easy to detect, while beta-eudesmol absorbs weakly and needs another detection mode. A gravimetric volatile oil test is not comparable with the HPLC value.

The fingerprint of cang zhu extract has atractylodin as a prominent late-eluting peak, beta-eudesmol and hinesol as sesquiterpenoid alcohols and atractylon as an unstable furan sesquiterpene. Atractylon oxidizes readily to atractylenolide III, so a lot with a large atractylenolide peak and a small atractylon peak has aged or been exposed to air. Atractylodin itself degrades in light, giving isomers and breakdown products.

Sample preparation uses methanol or ethanol under dim light, with prompt filtration and injection. Clear glass and a long wait in the autosampler lower the atractylodin figure, which is why amber vials and a short queue are part of a sound method.

Purity risks follow from the botany. Atractylodes chinensis is the northern cang zhu of the Chinese pharmacopoeia and has a different oil composition, and Atractylodes macrocephala, the bai zhu, is a separate drug that lacks atractylodin in comparable amounts. A named species, the rhizome as the stated part and a fingerprint with atractylodin protect identity better than a percentage.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Atractylodes lancea
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Terpenoids
Common Name	Atractylodes, Cang Zhu, Spear-Leaved Atractylodes
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Atractylodin (polyacetylene of the volatile oil of Atractylodes lancea rhizome)
Primary Grade	10% Atractylodin (HPLC)
Available Grades	1% · 10% Atractylodin (HPLC)
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

10% Grade for Oil-Based Softgels

Atractylodin and the sesquiterpenoid alcohols dissolve in oil far better than in water, so softgel fills disperse the 10% grade in a carrier oil. Protect the fill from light and air during preparation, and stir throughout encapsulation to keep the oily particles uniform.

10% Grade in Compact Capsules

In hard capsules, the 10% grade delivers an atractylodin target in a small fill. The light brown powder is slightly oily and aromatic, so a flow agent helps the hopper, and capsule weights should be checked at the start of each production run.

10% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the high grade need a dry binder and an absorbent, since the volatile fraction softens compacts and sticks to punches. A dry room, a modest lubricant level and a hardness check after storage show whether the formula is stable.

1% Grade for Dry Herbal Compounds

At 1% the extract is dosed by weight in dry compounds, where the rhizome’s starchy matrix and its warm, resinous aroma sit beside other root powders. Pre-mix it with a bulking agent, and screen the blend before filling to remove lumps.

1% Grade for Granule Premixes

Granules carry the lower grade with a binder and a flavor system, where ginger, citrus or mint covers the bitter, resinous note. The volatile oil is lost at high drying temperatures, so dry granules gently and measure the atractylodin content after drying.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a light brown powder with a pungent, resinous and slightly sweet odor and a bitter, aromatic taste. It is insoluble in water, so it does not dissolve in drink bases, and it dissolves in ethanol, in oils and in some surfactant systems. The volatile fraction is lost slowly in open air, so keep the drum closed and the headspace small.

Atractylodin is photosensitive and oxidizes in air, and atractylon converts into atractylenolide III, so protect the powder from light, heat and oxygen. Packaging should block light, and partly used containers should be re-sealed promptly. At production scale, handle the Atractylodes lancea extract in a ventilated station, pre-mix it with a portion of the carrier and avoid long hot holds.

Equipment cleaning needs attention because the oily aromatic residue persists. Wash with warm detergent or an ethanol cleaner, and store this powder away from delicate flavors that can pick up its odor. Record the date the drum was opened, and judge each lot against a retained sample for color, odor and flow.

An Atractylodes lancea extract is checked by aroma, color and the atractylodin peak. A fresh lot smells resinous and warm, and an aged lot smells flat or sour as the volatile fraction oxidizes. Keep a retained sample of each Atractylodes lancea extract lot in an amber container, and compare the atractylodin and atractylenolide III peaks of later lots, since the second grows as the first fades.

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.