Mulberry Leaf Extract 1–5% DNJ

Mulberry leaf extract is prepared from the leaves of Morus alba, the white mulberry grown for silkworm feed and fruit, and not from the berries, the root bark or the twigs. Ethanol extraction takes up the alkaloids of the leaf, and the liquor is dried to a purple red powder that dissolves in water.

The grade range is 1–5% DNJ by HPLC, and the primary grade is the 5% end. The powder is 80 mesh and water soluble. The 1% grade suits tea-style blends and drink powders, while the 5% grade carries a higher marker load for compact capsules and tablets.

SKU: BOT-STX-0050 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Alkaloids, Ethanol Extracted, Gummies & Chews, Leaf & Herb, Mulberry, Standardized Extracts

DNJ Standardization & Grades

DNJ is the abbreviation of 1-deoxynojirimycin, a small, very polar alkaloid in which a piperidine ring carries four hydroxyl groups. It looks like a sugar and is classed as an iminosugar. It is the standardization target because it is the characteristic alkaloid of the mulberry leaf and because it can be measured as a single compound against a pure reference. The botanical entity is Morus alba L., a tree of the Moraceae, and the part used is the leaf. The leaf also holds flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin glycosides, which are not counted in this grade.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
1% DNJ	HPLC	Tea-style blends and drink powders
5% DNJ	HPLC	Capsules and tablets with small fill

The two grades differ by a factor of five. The 1% grade keeps more of the flavonoids, sugars and chlorophyll-derived solids of the leaf, so mulberry leaf extract at this level suits tea-style blends and drink powders. The leaf is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract, the Mulberry Leaf Extract Powder, as a milled leaf, the Mulberry Leaf Powder, and the mulberry flavonol is listed as the purified compound Morin 98%. The fruit and the root bark are separate materials. Mulberry leaf extract at 5% is the more concentrated of the two grades, and mulberry leaf extract at 1% is the fuller one. The leaf is the main food of the silkworm.

DNJ Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by HPLC against a pure DNJ reference. DNJ has no chromophore and is so polar that it is poorly retained on an ordinary reversed-phase column. The sample is therefore either derivatized before injection, so that it can be seen by UV or fluorescence, or run on a column for polar analytes with a mass detector. A colorimetric alkaloid total would count other nitrogen compounds, and it cannot be converted into an HPLC DNJ result.

Sample preparation matters for a compound this polar. The powder is dissolved in a water-based diluent, filtered, and run alongside standards of known concentration, and the derivatization step must be complete and repeatable. Two laboratories using different derivatization reagents can report different percentages for the same lot, so the procedure belongs with the figure.

The level of DNJ in the raw leaf changes with the season, the age of the leaf and the cultivar, with young leaves usually holding more than old ones. An extract grade fixes the result for the lot, but it also means that the extract of one harvest can differ in its other solids, such as the flavonoids, from an extract of another harvest at the same DNJ percentage.

Purity risks follow from the plant. White mulberry, Morus alba, and black mulberry, Morus nigra, are different species, and the leaf is not the fruit. A fixed species, a fixed part and the DNJ peak with its flavonoid companions are the first identity checks.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Morus alba
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Alkaloids
Common Name	Mulberry Leaf, White Mulberry Leaf
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ, iminosugar alkaloid)
Primary Grade	5% DNJ (HPLC)
Available Grades	1% · 5% DNJ (HPLC)
Appearance	Purple Red powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Soluble
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

5% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 5% grade carries the DNJ target in a small fill and suits capsules and tablets. The purple red powder is water soluble and hygroscopic, so fill in a dry room and keep a desiccant in the closure of the bottle.

5% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 5% grade need a dry binder and a moisture-tolerant filler, because the polar powder takes up water and softens compacts. A film coat and a sealed blister protect the tablet from humid air during storage and shipping.

1% Grade in Tea-Style Blends

Tea-style blends use the 1% grade with mint, lemon peel or ginger. The extract is water soluble and clears quickly in a hot cup, with a mild, grassy leaf flavor that is easy to cover with spices and dried fruit.

1% Grade in Drink Powders

Drink powders carry the 1% grade with citrus or berry flavors and a sweetener. The solution is clear and colored, and the color depends on the pH, so test the shade in the finished drink through shelf life.

1% Grade in Gummy Premixes

Gummy premixes accept the 1% grade because the powder dissolves in warm syrup. Add it after the main cook, mix gently, and check the color of the finished gel, which will reflect the pigment content of the extract.

5% Grade in Stick Packs

For mulberry leaf, stick packs carry the 5% grade at a small fill with a flow agent and a sweet carrier. Seal the packs in moisture-barrier film, since the hygroscopic powder clumps at the seal and dissolves unevenly in the cup.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a purple red powder with a mild, leafy odor and a slightly sweet, grassy taste. It is water soluble, and solutions are clear and colored. DNJ itself is a stable small molecule and survives normal processing temperatures, but the flavonoids and pigments of the extract change color with the pH and darken on contact with iron or copper. Neutral to mildly acidic systems keep color more stable.

The polar nature of DNJ and the sugars of the leaf make the powder hygroscopic, so it cakes and sticks to equipment if humid air reaches it. Control humidity in weighing and filling, keep the drum sealed, and sieve the powder to break up soft lumps. A fine flow aid helps the 5% grade, which packs more densely, pass through hoppers and feeders.

In liquids, add the powder under agitation to a base that is already at the target pH, and avoid long hot holds in the presence of reducing sugars, which can brown the solution. Compare each lot with a retained sample for color, taste and the DNJ peak, and clean the line after a run, because the colored powder stains mixers and hoppers. Mulberry leaf extract keeps best in a sealed liner in a cool, dry store. A retained sample from each lot, tested again near the end of shelf life, shows whether the packaging holds the DNJ figure, which is stable, and the color, which is less so. Taste trials in the final drink base set the usable dose, because the grassy leaf note builds as the dose rises.

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.