Stephania Tetrandra Extract 10–50% Total Alkaloids

Stephania tetrandra extract is prepared from the root of Stephania tetrandra S.Moore, the plant sold in Chinese medicine as fen fang ji or han fang ji, a climbing member of the family Menispermaceae. Ethanol extraction concentrates the alkaloid fraction of the root, and the concentrate is dried to a light brown powder.

Total alkaloids are set at 10–50%, with a primary grade of 50% and a lower grade of 10%. The powder is 80 mesh and slightly soluble in water. The 50% grade suits capsules and tablets, while the 10% grade suits blends at larger inclusion.

SKU: BOT-STX-0239 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Alkaloids, Ethanol Extracted, Root & Rhizome, Softgels & Oil Fills, Standardized Extracts, Stephania

Stephania Alkaloid Standardization & Grades

The root of Stephania tetrandra holds bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, a family of large, two-unit molecules joined through ether bridges. The two main members are tetrandrine and fangchinoline, which differ only in one substituent: tetrandrine carries a methoxy group where fangchinoline has a phenolic hydroxyl. Stephania tetrandra extract is standardized to total alkaloids because the class covers this pair and their minor relatives, and because the figure shows how far the root has been concentrated.

The botanical entity is Stephania tetrandra S.Moore, and the part is the root. The same root is supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker figure, Stephania Tetrandra Extract Powder. The two principal alkaloids are available as single compounds, Tetrandrine 98% and Fangchinoline 98%.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
10% Total Alkaloids	Total alkaloids	Blends, larger inclusion
50% Total Alkaloids	Total alkaloids	Capsules and tablets, small fill

The 50% grade carries five times the alkaloid load per gram, so a capsule or tablet reaches its target with a small charge. The 10% grade is bulkier, lighter in color and more tolerant of blending errors, and it is the form most used in Stephania tetrandra extract blends. A formulator can scale between the two by weight, since both are expressed on the same basis.

The extract is made from root that has been washed, sliced, dried and extracted. Alkaloids are taken up at acidic or neutral pH and then concentrated and purified. Higher alkaloid strengths come from additional partition and crystallization steps that remove the starch, sugars and tannins of the root.

Stephania Alkaloid Analysis & Purity Risks

A total alkaloid figure is a class measure, and the route decides the number. A total can be isolated by acid-base partition and weighed, read by a dye-complex color reaction against a reference alkaloid, or built up from the HPLC peaks of the individual alkaloids. These routes count different things, so a result compares only with another result on the same route, and it cannot be converted into an HPLC figure for tetrandrine.

The data record for this product names tetrandrine as a secondary marker. It is described here without a number. Tetrandrine and fangchinoline are separated by HPLC with a column that resolves the two closely related peaks, and the ratio between them is part of the identity of the lot. A shifted ratio can signal a different plant source or a different extraction.

The most important purity risk concerns the name fang ji. The name has been applied to roots of different plants, among them Aristolochia fangchi, which contains aristolochic acids and is a known cause of safety concerns. Stephania tetrandra is a different plant of another family and does not contain these compounds. Botanical identity is therefore verified for every lot by microscopy and HPLC, and the absence of aristolochic acids is part of the lot review.

Sample preparation uses an acidic solvent to hold the alkaloids in solution, followed by filtration and injection.

A further check concerns the alkaloid salt form. Alkaloids in the dried root are partly present as salts with organic acids, and the extraction pH decides how much comes through as free base. A lot extracted at a different pH can read differently, and the pH of extraction is therefore fixed in the process record of Stephania tetrandra extract.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Stephania tetrandra
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Alkaloids
Common Name	Stephania, Fen Fang Ji
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Total alkaloids (tetrandrine, fangchinoline)
Primary Grade	50% Total Alkaloids
Available Grades	10% · 50% Total Alkaloids
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

50% Grade for Capsule Fills

The 50% grade reaches its alkaloid target in a small capsule fill. The powder is fine, slightly bitter and static, so a closed filling line, dust extraction and a flow agent protect the operators and keep the fill weight steady across a run.

10% Grade in Dry Blends

The 10% grade blends with other root extracts in dry mixes where alkaloids are one marker among several. Mix it with part of the carrier before the main charge, because the pale brown particles spread unevenly if they are added in one lot to a large batch.

50% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 50% grade need a dry binder and a lubricant. A film coat masks the strongly bitter taste and limits moisture pickup, and disintegration is rechecked after storage because the alkaloid-rich compact softens in humid air.

10% Grade for Stick-Pack Mixes

Stick-pack mixes use the 10% grade with a bulking carrier at higher gram weight. The extract is only slightly soluble, so the mix is stirred into a thick base. In clear drinks the powder forms a hazy suspension and leaves a bitter aftertaste.

50% Grade in Softgel Suspensions

The 50% grade is milled into an oil phase for softgel fills. Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids dissolve only slightly in oil, so particle size and viscosity are checked before encapsulation, and a suspending agent keeps the dose uniform.

10% Grade for Granulated Formats

Granulated formats take the 10% grade after granulation with a binder. Dry compaction suits the sticky powder better than wet granulation, and the granule is packed with a moisture barrier to hold its flow through shelf life.

Technical & Quality Considerations

Stephania tetrandra extract is a light brown powder with a faint woody scent and a strong bitter taste. It is slightly soluble in water, and its solubility depends on pH. The alkaloids dissolve better under mildly acidic conditions, where they form salts, and precipitate toward neutral and alkaline pH, so an aqueous format shows a haze that clears on acidification.

Alkaloid free bases are sensitive to light and oxygen over a long period, and the powder darkens slowly. Opaque, sealed liners with a small headspace protect the lot. Phenolic alkaloids bind iron, so stainless surfaces and low-iron fillers are preferred. The powder takes up moisture slowly and clumps in humid storage, which also intensifies the bitter smell.

Tightly closed liners with desiccant in a cool room preserve the loose, fine texture. Judge each lot against a retained sample for color. A grade change on the line calls for a new check weight, because the bulk of the two powders differs widely. The bitter taste is a useful sensory check, and a lot that tastes noticeably different from the retained sample is held for review.

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.