Terminalia bellirica Extract 40% Tannins

Terminalia bellirica extract is prepared from the dried fruit of the belleric myrobalan, Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., a deciduous tree of the family Combretaceae called bibhitaki or baheda in India. Ethanol extraction concentrates the hydrolyzable tannins of the fruit, and the concentrate is dried to a light brown powder that dissolves in water.

The extract is offered as a single grade of 40% tannins, measured by UV spectrophotometry. The powder is 80 mesh. It suits capsules, tablets and herbal blends where a bibhitaki fruit extract with a stated tannin figure is specified.

SKU: BOT-STX-0245 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Bibhitaki, Ethanol Extracted, Fruit & Berry, Gummies & Chews, Polyphenols, Standardized Extracts

Bibhitaki Tannin Standardization & Grades

Tannins are polyphenols large enough to bind proteins. The fruit of Terminalia bellirica is rich in hydrolyzable tannins, esters of gallic acid and of its dimer ellagic acid with a sugar core. The known members are chebulagic acid, corilagin, gallic acid and ellagic acid. The extract is standardized to tannins because the class dominates the fruit chemistry, and because a UV method gives a repeatable figure for lot comparison.

The botanical entity is Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., and the part is the fruit. Bibhitaki is one of the three myrobalans, with haritaki and amla, and the three fruits come from different trees. The same fruit is supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker figure, Terminalia bellirica Extract Powder, and as the milled fruit, Bibhitaki Powder.

This is a single grade, so there is no grade table. The 40% powder is the Terminalia bellirica grade the specification is written around, and inclusion rates are calculated from it. The extract is made from dried fruit that is deseeded where possible, crushed, extracted, filtered and concentrated. The fruit wall is the tannin-rich tissue, and the seed kernel is a different, oil-bearing material that is kept out.

Bibhitaki Tannin Analysis & Purity Risks

A UV tannin assay is a colorimetric reading. The sample reacts with a reagent that responds to phenolic hydroxyl groups, the absorbance is read in the UV-visible range, and the result is calculated against a reference phenol, usually gallic acid. Tannin protocols differ in whether they subtract the phenols that do not bind hide powder, so a result is comparable only with one on the same protocol.

This matters in the trade. Commercial bibhitaki extracts are labeled either as 40% tannins by titration or as 40% polyphenols by UV against gallic acid, and these figures measure different things. The first counts only tannin-type material, and the second counts all phenolic reducing capacity. A UV tannin figure cannot be converted into an HPLC result for chebulagic acid or gallic acid.

For identity, an HPLC fingerprint shows the pattern of chebulagic acid, corilagin, gallic acid and ellagic acid. The balance of free gallic acid to the larger esters indicates processing, because heat and moisture hydrolyze the esters and raise free gallic acid.

Purity risks follow from the material class. The fruit of Terminalia chebula and of Phyllanthus emblica is different from bibhitaki, and the three are sold together in triphala. Leaf and seed are not accepted as sources, because the tannin profile of those parts differs from that of the fruit. The fruit is the defined part for this extract.

Terminalia bellirica fruit is large and round, with a thick, velvety wall, and it is harvested after the fruit has fallen and ripened. The drying step is critical, since slow drying in humid weather lets mold grow and darkens the tannins. A Terminalia bellirica extract from quickly dried fruit has a lighter tone and a cleaner taste, and microbiology is part of every lot review.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Terminalia bellirica
Plant Part	Fruit & Berry
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Polyphenols
Common Name	Bibhitaki, Belleric Myrobalan
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Tannins (chebulagic acid, corilagin, gallic acid)
Primary Grade	40% Tannins (UV)
Appearance	Light Brown 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

Capsule Fills at 40%

Two-piece capsules take the 40% powder at a moderate fill. This tannin-rich solid takes up moisture and tastes astringent, so a dry filling room and a flow agent prevent bridging, and a check weight at the start of each run confirms the fill.

Tablet Blends with Fruit Tannin

Tablets of bibhitaki extract at 40% need a dry binder and a lubricant. A film coat masks the dry, puckering taste and limits moisture pickup, and hardness is rechecked after storage because the polyphenol-rich compact softens in humid air.

Herbal Powder Premixes

Premixes carry the 40% powder with other fruit and herb extracts in a bulking carrier. Mix the brown particles with part of the carrier first, because the astringent powder clumps and a direct charge to a large batch leaves hot spots of intense taste.

Stick-Pack Drink Mixes

Stick-pack mixes use the 40% powder at lower gram weight with a carrier. It dissolves to a clear to hazy brown drink with a sour, puckering taste, and a sweet or fruity flavor base covers the dryness without a strong sweetener.

Instant Herbal Granules

Instant granules for hot or cold water carry the 40% powder with a soluble carrier. The tannins dissolve readily, and the granule is dried gently, since long heat hydrolyzes the esters and raises free gallic acid.

Soft-Chew and Lozenge Bases

Soft chews and lozenges take the 40% powder where a sour, astringent fruit note is part of the profile. Add it after the main cook and test the finished pH, because tannin-type material can toughen a protein-based gel.

Technical & Quality Considerations

Terminalia bellirica extract is a light brown powder with a sour, woody, slightly fruity scent and a drying, astringent taste. It dissolves in water to a clear to slightly hazy brown solution of low pH. Hydrolyzable tannins break down in hot, wet and acidic conditions. Gallic acid and ellagic acid are released, and the second one is almost insoluble and can leave a fine sediment.

Tannins bind iron and form dark blue-black complexes, so carbon steel and iron-containing fillers darken the powder and solutions. Stainless equipment and low-iron carriers are the better choice. They also bind proteins, and a drink with whey, casein or gelatin can turn cloudy, so a protein-compatibility trial is run before a formula is fixed.

The powder takes up moisture strongly and cakes in humid storage. Liners closed against air, desiccant and a cool warehouse hold the powder in a pourable state. Compare each lot with a retained sample for color and taste, since the tone moves between tan and dark brown with the ripeness of the fruit, and run a new check weight when the filling line is restarted.

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.