Polygonum multiflorum Extract 1–80% THSG

Polygonum multiflorum, the climbing knotweed of China known in herbal trade as he shou wu or fo-ti, is the source plant of this Polygonum multiflorum extract, which is standardized for one stilbene glucoside. It is dried and milled to a light brown, 80 mesh powder that is only slightly soluble in water.

THSG is measured by HPLC and offered as a 1–80% range, with 80% as the primary grade and 1% as the lower grade. A purified 98% reference compound belongs to the phytochemical range. The higher grade fits small-fill capsules, and the lower grade fits blends and tablets.

SKU: BOT-STX-0211 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Dry Blends & Premixes, Ethanol Extracted, Fo-Ti, Saponins, Standardized Extracts, Whole Plant

THSG Standardization & Grades

THSG is 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside, a hydroxylated stilbene bound to one glucose unit, and it is the characteristic water-soluble marker of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Resveratrol is the better-known stilbene, but THSG carries four hydroxyl groups and a sugar, which makes it much more polar. The plant also contains anthraquinones such as emodin and physcion and condensed tannins, and a standardized extract is defined by its THSG figure while carrying the others as a background profile.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
1% THSG	HPLC	Blends, tablets
80% THSG	HPLC	Capsules, small fill weight

The span is very wide, so grade choice follows dose and carrier. An 80% extract is a heavily purified material in which the plant matrix is largely removed, while a 1% extract behaves like a whole-root extract with a modest marker share. The same plant is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract without a marker figure, the Polygonum Multiflorum Extract Powder, as a vine extract of the stem, the Polygonum Vine Extract Powder, and as the purified compound, THSG 98%.

Regulators in several markets have issued restrictions or warnings on this botanical, and the rules differ by country and by the processing state of the material. Brands review them for each destination before launch.

The raw material needs a precise statement. The traditional drug is the large tuberous root, which is dug after several years, washed, sliced and dried, and sold either raw or after steaming with black bean juice. The master data lists the whole plant for this extract, so the material is stated that way, and lots are tested on the finished powder.

THSG Analysis & Purity Risks

HPLC separates THSG from its cis isomer, from emodin and physcion, and from the other phenolics on a reversed-phase column, and detects it in the UV, where the stilbene chromophore absorbs strongly. The result is THSG itself, quantified against a reference standard. Because THSG is polar, it elutes early, and the gradient has to keep it apart from other polar compounds.

THSG is light-sensitive. The trans stilbene isomerizes to the cis form under UV light, and the cis form has different retention and absorbance, so samples are prepared in amber glassware and run promptly. A solution left on the bench can show a falling THSG peak and a rising neighbor, which would lead to a low result that has nothing to do with the lot.

The processing state matters for identity. The raw root and the steamed root, which is processed with black bean juice, differ strongly in their stilbene, tannin and anthraquinone levels, and the processed root has lower free anthraquinones. A THSG figure alone does not show which state the material is in, so the fingerprint is read for the anthraquinone pattern.

The botanical risk is the part and the species. The stated species is Polygonum multiflorum, which databases treat as a synonym of Reynoutria multiflora, so trade papers may use either name. Other knotweeds, including Reynoutria japonica, are sold under similar names, and they carry resveratrol and emodin instead. The vine of the same plant is a separate material, listed as a separate product. The material is stated as the whole plant in the master data, and plant part is part of the specification.

Raw material is harvested in autumn, cleaned, dried and stored dry. Material stored damp develops mold and loses THSG to enzymatic breakdown.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Polygonum multiflorum
Plant Part	Whole Plant
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Saponins
Common Name	Polygonum, Fo-Ti, He Shou Wu
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	THSG
Primary Grade	80% THSG (HPLC)
Available Grades	1% · 80% THSG (HPLC)
Appearance	Light Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Slightly Soluble in Water
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

80% Grade in Light-Sensitive Capsule Fills

The 80% grade of Polygonum multiflorum extract reaches a THSG target in a very small fill, which suits two-piece capsules. The stilbene is light-sensitive, so amber or opaque shells, low light at the filler and quick turnaround protect the marker.

80% Grade in Opaque-Coated Tablets

Tablets of the 80% grade need a dry binder and an opaque film coat, because the stilbene isomerizes in light. A coat in a deep shade, an amber bottle and a desiccant hold the marker level and the tablet color through the shelf life.

1% Grade in Herbal Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 1% grade carry the extract at a weight that presses well, with a dry binder to hold the fibrous root matrix. A film coat covers the earthy, bitter and slightly astringent taste, and a hardness check shows whether the tannins have pulled moisture into the core.

1% Grade in Granule Sachets

Granulated sachets carry the 1% grade with a malt, honey or black-sesame type base that suits the traditional flavor of the root. The extract dissolves only partly, so the drink is a hazy brown suspension, and label directions should call for stirring.

80% Grade in Contract Blending

Contract blenders use the 80% grade as a concentrated component in multi-ingredient powders. Because the dose is small, blend in stages and verify uniformity on a pilot batch, and keep the batch records of light exposure, since the stilbene degrades in light.

Technical & Quality Considerations

Polygonum multiflorum extract is a light brown powder with a mild, earthy and slightly bitter character. It is only slightly soluble in water. THSG dissolves in warm water, in ethanol and in aqueous alcohol, so warm preparation and gentle stirring give a more uniform dispersion than cold water.

THSG is stable as a dry solid but sensitive to light, oxygen and heat in solution. The polyphenolic hydroxyl groups oxidize, especially at higher pH and with trace metals, and the solution darkens. Mildly acidic bases, chelating agents, opaque packaging and low-oxygen storage hold the marker. Strong acid and heat cleave the glucose to give the less soluble aglycone.

The dry powder takes up moisture and cakes when damp. Closed charging and local extraction keep the fine brown dust out of the air at the filler.

A receiving check helps: a light brown, fine powder with a mild root note is expected, while a very dark shade points to heat damage and a musty smell suggests damp storage. Then an accelerated stability run in the intended pack, with light as a variable, shows early whether color and the THSG figure hold across the shelf life.

A quick check at receipt is useful. A light brown, fine powder with a mild root note is expected for Polygonum multiflorum extract, while a very dark shade points to heat damage and a sharp smell suggests oxidized phenolics. Both are visible before any assay result arrives.

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.