Marshmallow Root Extract Powder

Marshmallow root extract is a water extract of the root of Althaea officinalis L., the true marshmallow plant, dried to a light yellow powder. The sweet confection of the same name is a distant descendant of this plant and has no connection to the extract.

The extract ratio is 10:1, the powder is milled to 80 mesh, and it is water dispersible. It is a root-based ratio extract with no marker, which separates it from the milled root powder of the same species.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0444 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Capsules & Tablets, Gummies & Chews, Plant Extracts, Root & Rhizome, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Marshmallow Root Source & Identity

The species is Althaea officinalis L. of the mallow family, a tall perennial of damp meadows and salt marshes with velvety, gray-green leaves. The part used is the root, usually peeled and dried. Leaves and flowers are not used. Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) and common mallow (Malva sylvestris) are relatives that also yield mucilage, but they are different plants and are not substituted. Marshmallow root is known for very high mucilage, built on arabinogalactan and rhamnogalacturonan polysaccharides, along with starch, pectin and small amounts of flavonoids and phenolic acids. A water extract draws out the mucilage, which dissolves and thickens water.

Marshmallow Root Extract vs Powder

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Root Extract	Water-extracted, concentrated and dried marshmallow root	A soluble root extract in a dispersible powder is wanted
Marshmallow Root Powder	Dried marshmallow root milled whole, with no extraction	The whole root, with its starch and fiber, is wanted

The 10:1 ratio is the concentration of the starting root; it does not describe mucilage content. The milled root powder disperses as a cloudy, starchy suspension and swells slowly, while the extract hydrates more quickly into a smoother, more transparent viscous liquid. The extract is therefore easier to meter and to disperse, but it is also more hygroscopic. Buyers choose the milled root when they need the full root matrix and the extract when they need a quicker-hydrating mucilage ingredient without the bulk of starch.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Althaea officinalis
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Marshmallow Root, Althaea
Ingredient Type	Ratio Extract
Extract Ratio	10:1
Appearance	Light Yellow 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 with Mucilage Extract

Marshmallow root extract powder fills hard capsules alone or in blends. The mucilage makes the powder sticky and slow to flow, so fill in a dry room, add a flow aid and test fill weight carefully. The pale yellow fill is hardly visible through clear shells.

Smooth Drink Sticks

Dissolved in water, marshmallow root extract gives a pale yellow, softly viscous drink with a bland, faintly sweet taste. It adds body at low inclusion. Sift the powder into a stirred vortex or pre-mix it with sugar to stop gel lumps forming on the surface.

Tablets with Swelling Behavior

Marshmallow root extract compresses with a dry binder and a lubricant, and its mucilage helps bind the tablet. Swelling on contact with water slows disintegration, so test dissolution early. A film coat protects tablets from humidity in storage.

Gummies and Soft Chews

In gummies and chews, marshmallow root extract adds a pale tint and a thick, smooth body. Hydrate it fully in warm water before adding it to the cooled mass. Check set time, as the mucilage changes the gel texture at higher inclusion.

Instant Soothing-Style Drink Powders

Instant powders place marshmallow root extract with sugar, honey powder or maltodextrin for warm, lightly thickened drinks. The carrier disperses the particles so the mucilage hydrates evenly, and the pale color suits vanilla, lemon and honey flavors.

Formulation Notes

The powder is light yellow with a faint, slightly sweet earthy aroma and a bland taste. In water it hydrates into a thickened, translucent to hazy liquid, and the viscosity rises over minutes as mucilage swells. Hot water speeds hydration but can darken the liquid slightly.

Because mucilage holds water tightly, the extract takes up moisture rapidly from the air and sets into a hard, gel-like lump. Keep handling short, weigh quickly and use a dry room. Close opened packs tightly and store them cool and dry, away from sunlight. Root lots differ in whiteness depending on whether the cork layer was peeled, so a retained reference sample helps judge color on arrival. Marshmallow root extract also thickens quickly when sprinkled onto warm liquid, so add it gradually under constant stirring and allow several minutes for full hydration before judging the final viscosity.

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.