Bacopa monnieri Extract 20–50% Bacosides

Bacopa monnieri extract is prepared from the aerial parts of Bacopa monnieri, the creeping water herb known as brahmi, and not from the roots or from the unrelated plant that shares the name in some markets. Ethanol extraction takes up the saponins, and the liquor is dried to a light brown powder.

The grade range is 20–50% bacosides by HPLC, and the primary grade is the 50% end. The powder is 80 mesh and slightly soluble in water. The 20% grade keeps a fuller herb profile for blends, while the 50% grade carries a high saponin load for compact capsules and tablets.

SKU: BOT-STX-0028 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Brahmi, Dry Blends & Premixes, Ethanol Extracted, Gummies & Chews, Leaf & Herb, Standardized Extracts

Bacoside Standardization & Grades

Bacosides are dammarane-type triterpene saponins, in which a four-ring triterpene skeleton carries sugar chains. The two aglycones most often named are jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin. Bacosides are a mixture, so a percentage names a group of related saponins that were summed, not one compound. They are the standardization target because they are the characteristic saponins of the herb. The botanical entity is Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, a plant of wet ground in the Plantaginaceae, and the part used is the aerial herb.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
20% Bacosides	HPLC	Drink mixes and broad-profile capsules
50% Bacosides	HPLC	Compact capsules and tablets

The two grades differ in concentration and in the matrix around the marker. The 50% grade is a saponin concentrate that supplies a marker dose from a small fill. Bacopa monnieri extract at 50% is therefore the more concentrated and more bitter choice, and Bacopa monnieri at 20% is the easier one to flavor. The 20% grade carries more of the sugars, flavonoids and other solids of the herb, so Bacopa monnieri extract at this level is lighter in bitterness and easier to flavor. The same plant is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract, the Bacopa Monnieri Extract Powder, and as a milled herb, the Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) Powder. The name brahmi also refers to Centella asiatica in some regions, which is a different plant with different markers.

Bacoside Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by HPLC against bacoside reference standards. Bacosides are a mixture with no single compound in public chemical databases, so a ratio extract cannot be quantified against one pure marker, and the method sums a defined set of named saponins. A UV total or a gravimetric saponin figure counts every glycoside that responds, and it cannot be converted into an HPLC bacoside result. Bacopa monnieri extract of both grades is quantified against the same set of saponins, so the difference between them is concentration, not method.

Sample preparation uses an alcohol diluent, because bacosides dissolve better in alcohol than in water. The solution is filtered and injected on a reversed-phase column with UV detection at a low wavelength, since saponins absorb weakly. The chromatogram of Bacopa monnieri shows a cluster of closely spaced peaks, so the integration rules need to be fixed in the method.

The list of saponins that were summed is the key to comparison. A recent monograph assay counts only part of the family, and therefore a certificate that reports a different set can show a different percentage for the same lot. Buyers who compare offers should compare the list of quantified bacosides before they compare the numbers, because a high percentage from a broad list is not the same as a high percentage from a narrow one.

Purity risks come from naming and from the plant itself. Brahmi is used in some markets for Centella asiatica, which is in a different family, and Bacopa caroliniana is another aquatic species. The part matters, and the aerial herb is the standard material. A fixed species, a fixed part and a chromatographic fingerprint of the saponin cluster are more reliable than the percentage alone.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Bacopa monnieri
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Saponins
Common Name	Bacopa, Brahmi, Water Hyssop
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Bacosides (dammarane-type triterpene saponins)
Primary Grade	50% Bacosides (HPLC)
Available Grades	20% · 50% Bacosides (HPLC)
Appearance	Light Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Slightly Soluble 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

50% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 50% grade delivers a saponin dose from a small fill, which suits capsules and tablets. The powder is slightly soluble in water, bitter and foaming, so use a glidant for hopper flow and fill in a dry, cool room.

50% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 50% grade need a dry binder and a moisture-tolerant filler, because saponin powders take up water and soften compacts. Test hardness after storage, and coat the tablet to hide the bitter taste of the herb.

20% Grade in Drink Mixes

Drink mixes carry the 20% grade with flavors that mask the bitter edge of the herb, such as mint, ginger or fruit. The powder disperses with a haze, and saponin foam forms on stirring, so mix gently or add a defoamer.

20% Grade in Capsule Blends

Capsule blends of several herbs accept the 20% grade, which fills at a larger weight and is easier to meter. The brown powder is hygroscopic and slightly sticky, so add a flow aid and check the fill weight at each lot change.

20% Grade in Gummy Premixes

Gummy premixes can carry the 20% grade, but the bitter, foaming saponins need strong flavor and a sweetener. Add the powder after the main cook, mix gently to avoid trapped air, and check the surface of the gummy for bubbles.

50% Grade in Stick Packs

Stick packs carry the 50% grade with a flow agent and a sweet carrier. Seal the packs in moisture-barrier film, since the saponin powder clumps at the seal, and test the taste in the final dilution before scale-up.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a light brown powder with a herbal, slightly earthy odor and a bitter, lingering taste. It is slightly soluble in water, and saponin solutions foam when stirred. Foam can complicate liquid filling and tablet granulation, so add the powder slowly below the liquid surface or use a compatible antifoam. The powder takes up moisture and cakes, and bitterness is the main limit on dose in drinks.

For production, control humidity in weighing and filling and keep the powder in a sealed liner. Sieve before blending to break up soft lumps, and pre-blend with a portion of the carrier. Saponin powders are fine and dusty, so use closed transfers where possible and wipe the hoppers after each run to avoid cross-contact with pale products.

Glycosides of this type are stable at normal processing temperatures in neutral and mildly acidic bases, but long exposure to strong acid or alkali can split the sugar chains from the skeleton and change the chromatographic pattern. Compare each lot with a retained sample for color, taste and the saponin cluster, and run a stability trial in the real formula before scale-up. Bacopa monnieri herb is bitter, and the bitterness carries into the extract, so a taste trial with the final sweetener and flavor system sets the usable dose. A sealed liner and a cool, dry store keep the powder free-flowing during shelf life.

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.