Licorice Root Extract Powder

Name: Licorice Root Extract Powder 10:1 | Botanical Ingredient
SKU: BOT-BEX-0092

Licorice Root Extract Powder is a concentrated botanical ingredient produced from the roots of Glycyrrhiza species. It contains characteristic triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids, with glycyrrhizin, also known as glycyrrhizic acid, serving as the principal commercial marker. The dry extract format is used in dietary supplements, botanical formulations, functional foods, and flavor systems.

Commercial grades include 4:1, 10:1, and 20:1 ratio extracts, with 10:1 representing the primary conventional sourcing grade. Standardized extracts with 10% and 20% glycyrrhizic acid provide defined marker content for projects requiring analytical control by HPLC. Ratio-defined and marker-standardized materials represent different specification systems and should be selected according to formulation and quality objectives.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0092 Categories: Botanical Extracts, Root & Rhizome Extracts Tags: Flavonoids, Functional Foods, Glycyrrhiza spp., Glycyrrhizic Acid, Licorice Root, Root

Ingredient Profile & Common Uses

Licorice extract is produced from root material of Glycyrrhiza species and differs from ordinary ground licorice root powder because extraction concentrates soluble botanical constituents into a lower-use-level dry ingredient. The extract retains a mixed botanical matrix of saponins and flavonoids and should be distinguished from purified glycyrrhizic acid, glabridin concentrates, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice, which represent separate commercial ingredient types.

Commercial sourcing generally follows either ratio-defined or marker-standardized specifications. The 10:1 format is widely used for conventional botanical formulations, while standardized materials provide controlled marker content for buyers requiring analytical consistency. Extract ratio describes the relationship between starting botanical material and finished extract; it does not represent the percentage of glycyrrhizin present in the powder.

The ingredient has a characteristic sweet licorice flavor and yellow-brown to brown botanical coloration. These sensory properties support use in supplements and selected food systems but can materially affect flavor balance and appearance. In liquid applications, formulators should evaluate wetting, dispersion, foam formation, haze, sedimentation, and overall sensory intensity during bench testing.

Application Areas

Dietary Supplements

Used in capsules, tablets, powders, granules, and multi-botanical formulations. Ratio extracts support conventional botanical positioning, while standardized grades are suitable where defined marker content is required.

Botanical Formulas

Licorice extract is used in concentrated multi-herb systems where an extracted root ingredient is preferred over whole botanical powder. Its strong sweetness and flavor can influence the sensory profile of the blend.

Functional Foods & Beverage Powders

Suitable for selected powdered beverages and functional food formulations. Dispersion, haze, foam, sedimentation, color contribution, and flavor intensity should be evaluated in the finished matrix.

Confectionery & Lozenges

The pronounced licorice profile and natural sweetness make the extract relevant to selected confectionery and lozenge formulations where both botanical identity and sensory contribution are commercially important.

Typical Specifications

Parameter	Commercial Specification
Product Name	Licorice Root Extract Powder
Botanical Source	Glycyrrhiza spp.
Plant Part	Root
Ingredient Type	Botanical Extract
Product Form	Powder
Ratio Grades	4:1 · 10:1 · 20:1
Primary Commercial Grade	10:1 Extract
Standardized Grades	10% · 20% Glycyrrhizic Acid
Principal Marker	Glycyrrhizin / Glycyrrhizic Acid
Assay Method — Standardized Grades	HPLC
Reference CAS — Licorice Extract	68916-91-6
Glycyrrhizic Acid CAS	1405-86-3
Glycyrrhizic Acid Formula	C₄₂H₆₂O₁₆
Major Chemical Family	Triterpenoid Saponins
Characteristic Flavonoids	Liquiritin · Isoliquiritin · Related Licorice Flavonoids
Appearance	Yellow-brown to brown extract powder

Key Constituents & Extract Profile

Glycyrrhizin is the principal characteristic triterpenoid saponin associated with licorice root and is commonly reported analytically as glycyrrhizic acid. Its molecular formula is C₄₂H₆₂O₁₆. The botanical matrix also contains flavonoids including liquiritin, isoliquiritin, and related licorice flavonoids, giving the extract a broader phytochemical profile than a purified single-compound ingredient.

USP Powdered Licorice Extract provides a useful pharmacopeial reference for this ingredient category, defining a crude botanical-to-powdered-extract ratio of 5:1–7:1 and not less than 6.0% glycyrrhizic acid on the dried basis. This represents a separate specification framework from conventional ratio extracts and independently standardized grades.

High-purity glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhizinate salts, glabridin concentrates, and DGL are chemically and commercially distinct and are better treated as separate ingredient entities.

Technical & Quality Considerations

Quality evaluation should begin with botanical identity, root authentication, and confirmation that the material is an extract rather than ground botanical powder. Standardized products additionally require clear definition of the target marker and analytical method, with HPLC commonly used for quantitative assay. Product identity and marker identity must remain separate: licorice extract is associated with reference CAS 68916-91-6, while glycyrrhizic acid is the individual compound identified by CAS 1405-86-3.

Conventional ratio extracts typically retain stronger yellow-brown coloration, characteristic sweetness, and more of the broader root matrix than highly standardized materials. In aqueous systems, formulators should evaluate wetting, dispersion, foam, haze, sedimentation, and sensory intensity rather than assuming identical behavior across grades. Changes in concentration and standardization can also alter color, flavor strength, and the proportion of non-marker botanical solids.

For dry products, premixing can improve distribution when the extract is combined with higher-volume carriers or other botanical powders. Liquid and beverage systems benefit from bench testing before scale-up to assess dispersion and flavor balance. Where glycyrrhizic acid content is a quantitative formulation target, calculations should be based on the standardized assay rather than the extract ratio.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports samples, development quantities, commercial orders, and repeat ingredient supply for product evaluation, formulation, and ongoing sourcing. Packaging, storage, and shipping conditions are selected according to ingredient characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	Sample · 100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	5–7 days
Production Lead Time	15–30 days
Packaging	Sealed food-grade or suitable protective inner packaging with drum, carton, bag, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	According to the approved product specification and ingredient stability requirements
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations

Available quantities, packaging format, net weight, storage conditions, analytical requirements, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected ingredient and commercial order.