Sea Buckthorn Extract 5–20% Flavonoids

Sea buckthorn extract is prepared from the orange berries of Hippophae rhamnoides, the thorny shrub of cold coasts and mountain valleys, and not from the leaves or from the seed and pulp oils. Ethanol extraction takes up the flavonoids of the berry, and the liquor is dried to a yellow-orange powder.

The grade range is 5–20% flavonoids by UV, and the primary grade is the 20% end. The powder is 80 mesh and slightly soluble in water. The 5% grade suits drink powders and sweet-sour blends, while the 20% grade carries a higher flavonoid load for compact capsules and tablets.

SKU: BOT-STX-0047 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Bars & Bakery, Ethanol Extracted, Flavonoids, Fruit & Berry, Gummies & Chews, Sea Buckthorn, Standardized Extracts

Flavonoid Standardization & Grades

The berry of sea buckthorn is unusual because its flavonoids are dominated by derivatives of isorhamnetin, a methylated relative of quercetin, with quercetin and kaempferol glycosides beside them. The pigments that give the berry its orange color are carotenoids, not flavonoids, and they are a separate fraction. The botanical entity is Hippophae rhamnoides L., a shrub of the Elaeagnaceae, and the part used is the ripe berry.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
5% Flavonoids	UV	Drink powders and sweet-sour blends
20% Flavonoids	UV	Capsules and tablets with small fill

The two grades are different materials. The 5% grade holds more of the berry sugars, fruit acids and pale yellow pigments, so sea buckthorn extract at this level has a sour, fruity character that suits drink powders and sweet-sour blends. The berry is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract in two product lines, the Sea Buckthorn Berry Extract Powder and the Sea Buckthorn Extract Powder, and as a spray-dried fruit powder, the Sea Buckthorn Powder. Sea buckthorn oils from the pulp and the seed are different products and carry no flavonoid grade. Sea buckthorn extract at 20% is the more concentrated of the two grades, and sea buckthorn extract at 5% is the fuller one. The shrub grows from Europe to China, and sea buckthorn berries are small, soft and very sour.

Flavonoid Analysis & Purity Risks

The flavonoid figure is measured by UV. The result is expressed on that reference and counts every compound that gives the reaction. It is not an HPLC result, and it cannot be converted into a figure for isorhamnetin or quercetin.

The reference compound belongs with the figure. A procedure that reads against rutin and one that reads against quercetin give different percentages for the same extract, because the response of each flavonoid is different. Methylated flavonols such as isorhamnetin respond differently from quercetin in a metal-complex assay, so the berry is a material where the choice of reference can shift the result noticeably.

HPLC is used beside the UV total to show the individual glycosides. Sea buckthorn gives a recognizable pattern with isorhamnetin glycosides as the largest peaks, and this pattern distinguishes the berry from other flavonoid sources. Sample preparation uses an alcohol diluent, a fixed reaction time and a blank.

Purity risks follow from the plant material. Berry, leaf and seed carry different flavonoid profiles, and the leaf contains flavonoids at a higher level than the fruit. A leaf extract sold under a berry name would give a high UV reading with a different glycoside pattern. Oils are fat-soluble and contain no flavonoid. A fixed part and a fingerprint of the isorhamnetin glycosides are the first identity checks.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Hippophae rhamnoides
Plant Part	Fruit & Berry
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Flavonoids, Polyphenols
Common Name	Sea Buckthorn, Seaberry
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Total flavonoids (isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol glycosides)
Primary Grade	20% Flavonoids (UV)
Available Grades	5% · 20% Flavonoids (UV)
Appearance	Yellow-Orange 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

20% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 20% grade carries a flavonoid load in a small fill and suits capsules and tablets of sea buckthorn. The yellow-orange powder is slightly soluble in water and hygroscopic, so fill in a dry room and keep a desiccant in the bottle closure.

20% Grade in Tablet Blends

For sea buckthorn, tablets of the 20% grade need a dry binder and a moisture-tolerant filler, because flavonoid powders take up water and soften compacts. Test hardness after storage and check the tablet face for orange specks from poorly dispersed powder.

5% Grade in Drink Powders

The 5% grade has a sour, fruity flavor and gives a hazy yellow-orange drink, since the powder is only slightly soluble in water. It suits mixes with citrus, mango or passion fruit, where the tart note fits the flavor.

5% Grade in Gummy Premixes

Gummy premixes accept the 5% grade for color and a sour berry note. Add the powder after the main cook, and check how the extra fruit acids affect the pH and the set of a pectin gel before scale-up.

5% Grade in Bar Premixes

Bar premixes use the 5% grade in small inclusions with oat, nut and dried-fruit bases. Blend the powder into the dry fraction before the syrup, so that the yellow-orange color is even and does not form streaks.

20% Grade in Stick Packs

Stick packs carry the 20% grade at a small fill with a flow agent and an acid carrier. Seal the packs in light- and moisture-barrier film, because the powder clumps at the seal and the pigments fade in clear film.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a yellow-orange powder with a fruity, slightly acidic odor and a sour, mildly astringent taste. It is slightly soluble in water, and solutions are hazy and yellow-orange. The flavonoid glycosides are reasonably stable at normal processing temperatures, but they darken on contact with iron and copper and slowly in light, so stainless steel, glass and opaque packaging are preferred.

Fruit sugars and acids make the powder hygroscopic, and it cakes and sticks to equipment if humid air reaches it. Control humidity at weighing and filling, keep the drum sealed, and sieve the powder to break up soft lumps. A fine flow aid helps the 20% grade, which packs more densely, pass through hoppers and feeders.

For sea buckthorn, in liquids, wet the powder with a small amount of alcohol or a surfactant solution before dilution and mix at high shear. Compare each lot with a retained sample for color, taste and the glycoside pattern. The carotenoid fraction that remains in the extract fades in strong light, so a light-protective pack keeps the orange tone through shelf life. Sea buckthorn extract keeps its flavonoid reading well in a sealed liner, and a sample from each lot tested again near the end of shelf life shows whether the packaging also holds the color. A taste trial in the final drink sets the usable dose, because the sour note of the berry carries through at higher doses.

Sea buckthorn extract tints a pale base yellow-orange even at low doses, so check the color of the finished product after storage and compare it with the target shade in light and in the dark.

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.