Elecampane Root Extract Powder

Elecampane root extract starts from the thick root and rhizome of Inula helenium, a tall perennial of the daisy family, with the stems, leaves and flower heads excluded. Water extraction concentrates the soluble root fraction, and the liquor is dried into a light brown powder that disperses in water.

The extract is supplied at a 10:1 ratio with no marker percentage and is milled to 80 mesh. Alantolactone and isoalantolactone are separate purified compounds from the same root, so this ratio extract is the plain whole-root option.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0329 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Elecampane, Gummies & Chews, Plant Extracts, Root & Rhizome, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Inula helenium Identity & Plant Part

The botanical entity is Inula helenium L., elecampane or horse-heal, a large perennial of the Asteraceae with big, velvety leaves and yellow flower heads. The part used is the root with its rhizome. Stems, leaves and flowers are not part of this ingredient.

Pharmacopoeia confusion is the main identity risk. A United States monograph titled Indian elecampane actually describes Inula racemosa, a different species. Elecampane root is also rich in inulin, a storage carbohydrate, and carries sesquiterpene lactones such as alantolactone, which are the compounds sold as purified products. Both are named only as constituent families.

Elecampane root is lifted, cleaned, sliced and dried before extraction, and the dried root with its rhizome is the starting material.

Elecampane Extract vs Isolated Lactones

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Root Extract	Water-extracted, concentrated and dried elecampane root	A whole-root ratio extract without a marker is wanted
Alantolactone 98%	Purified sesquiterpene lactone compound from the root	A single high-purity compound is the target
Isoalantolactone 98%	Purified isomeric sesquiterpene lactone compound	A single high-purity compound is the target

The 10:1 ratio expresses how far the elecampane root has been concentrated. The purified lactones are lipophilic and dissolve poorly in water, so a water extract carries them only weakly, and it is rich in inulin instead. The extract and the isolated compounds therefore describe different fractions of the root.

A formula that needs a defined compound has to start from one of the purified products. A formula built around the botanical, its part and a ratio can use this Inula helenium extract directly.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Inula helenium
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Elecampane Root
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

Root Extract Capsules

Elecampane extract suits capsule filling, with a dispersible light brown powder and a mild sweetness. Inulin gives a slightly sweet, fine and fairly dense powder after water extraction. Fill weight is set from the first tapped samples of the inulin-rich powder, and the finished capsule is tested for disintegration.

Dense Tablet Blends

The extract compresses with microcrystalline cellulose and a disintegrant, and its inulin adds binding. A film coat hides the brown tint and the root’s bitter, aromatic edge. Dry granulation protects the Inula helenium blend from humidity before compression.

Instant Drink Powders

Instant drink powders use the extract as a mildly sweet and bitter base, with inulin lending a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Ginger, honey and cinnamon flavors blend well. A carrier in the dry blend keeps the dose uniform between sachets.

Gummy Premix Blends

Gummies carry the extract in lemon, ginger and honey flavors that cover the faint camphor-like note. Add it late in the cooked base. Inulin can slightly thicken the gel, so a small pilot batch confirms texture before scale-up.

Powder Stick Drinks

Drink sticks pair the extract with tea or spice flavors. It disperses to a hazy beige liquid. Barrier laminate limits moisture pickup during storage, which is important because inulin attracts water from the air. Sticks are filled at low humidity, since inulin picks up moisture during filling.

Formulation Notes

Elecampane root extract is a light brown powder with a faint, sweet, camphor-like and earthy aroma and a mildly bitter, sweet taste. In water it disperses to a hazy beige liquid that thickens very slightly because of the inulin. Fine particles settle slowly on standing.

Inulin attracts water, so the powder picks up humidity quickly and cakes at the surface. Weigh the Inula helenium extract in a dry room, close the liner after every draw, and keep tools dry. Store it away from heat and direct light. If a pack has taken up humidity, break lumps before blending to avoid uneven dosing.

Elecampane root extract is weighed in a dry room and used from small opened packs, because inulin draws moisture quickly and an open bag left on a bench can change from a free-flowing powder to a hard block within a single working shift.

Since inulin pulls water from the air even at moderate humidity, elecampane extract in an opened pack changes texture within a single shift unless the liner is folded closed after each use.

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.