Balloon Flower Root Extract Powder

The root of Platycodon grandiflorus, the balloon flower known as jiegeng in Chinese and doraji in Korean, is the only plant part behind this extract. The root is extracted in water, concentrated and dried to a light brown powder. Stems, leaves and blue flowers are not used.

This balloon flower root extract is a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker assay. The powder is milled to 80 mesh and disperses in water. No saponin percentage is stated, and the standardized saponin extract of the same root is a separate product.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0196 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Balloon Flower, Bars & Bakery, Gummies & Chews, Plant Extracts, Root & Rhizome, Water Extracted

Platycodon grandiflorus Root Source & Identity

The botanical entity is Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A.DC., a perennial of the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, native to East Asia and the only species in its genus. The part used is the thick, tapering root. Leaves, flowers and seed capsules are not part of this balloon flower root extract.

The root is easily mistaken for other white or pale roots. Codonopsis pilosula, dangshen, belongs to the same family but is a different genus, and Adenophora roots, called shashen, are another look-alike. The species name should be on the specification.

Triterpenoid saponins called platycodins and inulin-type carbohydrate are the constituent families of the root.

Balloon Flower Extract vs Related Forms

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Balloon Flower Root Extract	Water extract of the root, ratio-defined	A dispersible whole-root extract without a marker is needed
Platycodon Grandiflorus Extract 10–50% Saponins	Standardized extract of the same root with a defined saponin range	The specification names a saponin figure
Balloon Flower Root Powder	Dried, milled root with no extraction	Whole root with fibre and inulin is wanted

The 10:1 ratio measures root going into the balloon flower root extract. It is not a platycodin assay, and it makes no claim on saponin content. The extract keeps the root’s whole water-soluble profile, including its inulin.

The three rows are three specification bases. A ratio extract fixes species, part and solvent; a standardized extract fixes a saponin range; the root powder fixes the whole milled root.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Platycodon grandiflorus
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Balloon Flower, Chinese Bellflower
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

Capsules for a Foaming Root Extract

Balloon flower root extract fills hard capsules after a flow check at 80 mesh, and a balloon flower root extract blend usually needs only one excipient. Saponin and inulin together make the dried extract take up moisture, so fill in a controlled-humidity room. Where flow is poor, a glidant added at a low level usually cures it.

Tablets with Moisture Control

Tablets need a dry binder and a lubricant added late in the blend. Inulin-type carbohydrates soften a tablet as it absorbs water, so compare hardness at pressing and after a week of storage, and use a moisture-barrier film coat on the light brown core.

Foaming Drink Sticks

Platycodin saponins are strong natural foaming agents, so a stick for water, tea or a warm drink produces a head of foam when stirred. Test foam height in the cup at the planned dose, and choose an opaque or tinted base to mask the slight haze.

Honey-Style Sachets

Korean doraji preparations often pair the root with honey or jujube flavours, and the extract suits sachets with those flavours. Sieve balloon flower root extract into the carrier before filling so that the tan tone is even, and run a dose-uniformity check at the start, middle and end of the filling run.

Bar and Gummy Premixes

For bars and gummies, add the powder to the dry premix before syrup or cooking. Foam from the saponins is not an issue once the powder is bound, but taste the product after a week of storage, because the root’s bitter-sweet note can become more noticeable as the bar or gummy ages.

Formulation Notes

Balloon flower root extract is a light brown powder with a mild, earthy smell and a slightly bitter-sweet taste. In water it forms a tan dispersion that foams heavily when stirred or shaken, because platycodin saponins lower the surface tension of water. The foam makes air entrainment the main process variable in beverage filling.

Add the powder below the liquid surface, or through a funnel, to limit foaming, and consider a food-grade antifoam only if the label allows it. A short sieving pass with the carrier before blending spreads the powder evenly. Squeeze out surplus air before re-closing the liner, and keep the drum off damp floors and away from heat.

Inulin-type carbohydrate in balloon flower root extract adds mild body to the liquid and also holds moisture, so a drum left open in a humid room will cake. Judge colour, foam and clarity in the actual base before the dose is fixed.

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.