Willow Bark Extract Powder

Willow bark extract starts from the bark of Salix alba, the white willow, a tall riverside tree of the willow family. Water extraction concentrates the soluble bark fraction, and the liquor is dried to a light brown powder that disperses in water.

The extract is supplied at a 10:1 ratio with no marker percentage and is milled to 80 mesh. A salicin-graded extract and the milled bark powder are separate products, so this ratio extract is the entry for a whole-bark water concentrate.

Salix alba Bark Identity & Plant Part

The botanical entity is Salix alba L., the white willow, a tall deciduous tree of the Salicaceae that grows along rivers across Europe and western Asia. The part used is the bark, taken from young branches of a tree that is easy to recognize by its narrow, silvery-gray leaves and deeply furrowed trunk. Leaves, catkins and wood are not part of this ingredient. Bark from other willow species is sold under similar names.

The characteristic constituents are phenolic glycosides, mainly salicin, salicortin and tremulacin, along with tannins and flavonoids, named here as families only. Salicin is the glucoside of salicyl alcohol. Willow species vary in glycoside levels, which is why the botanical name, and not just the word willow, belongs in the specification.

Willow Bark Extract vs Related Willow Forms

FormWhat It IsChoose It When
10:1 Bark ExtractWater-extracted and concentrated willow barkA whole-bark concentrate without a marker target is specified
White Willow Bark Extract PowderRatio extract of the same white willow bark under its full nameA white willow bark extract named by species is wanted
White Willow Bark Extract 15–50% SalicinSeparate extract graded by salicin contentA defined salicin grade is the specification
White Willow Bark PowderDried white willow bark milled to powderA fibrous whole-bark powder is wanted

The 10:1 ratio is a concentration step from dried bark. It is not a salicin figure, and the willow bark extract here carries no marker percentage. Commercial willow bark extracts are sold at salicin levels measured by HPLC, and that kind of number belongs to the graded sibling, not to a ratio.

The bark powder keeps all fiber and tannin matrix, and it is bulky and strongly astringent. The ratio extract is the water-soluble fraction and disperses more evenly in sticks and capsules. Species and part define the family, and the form decides whether a numeric marker is part of the specification. The extract also takes less volume in a capsule than the same bark as a milled powder.

Typical Specifications

Specification ItemProduct Information
Latin NameSalix alba
Plant PartBark & Stem
ProcessingWater Extraction
Common NameWhite Willow Bark
Ingredient TypeRatio Extract
Extract Ratio10:1
AppearanceLight brown powder
Solubility / DispersibilityWater Dispersible
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)≤5.0%
Total Ash≤5.0%
Particle Size80 mesh
Heavy MetalsLead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
MicrobiologyTPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Application Areas

Capsule Fills for Willow Bark

Two-piece capsules take willow bark extract as a free-flowing light brown powder after a flow aid is added. The bitter, astringent taste stays inside the shell. Weight uniformity and disintegration are checked on each finished capsule lot.

Coated Willow Bark Tablets

Tablets compress the extract with cellulose filler and a disintegrant, with a film coat to cover the bitterness. Tannins bind some excipients, so compatibility is tested on the granulate. Hardness is checked on coated tablets before packing.

Bitter Tea-Style Instant Mixes

Instant mixes blend the extract with cinnamon, ginger and citrus flavors and a sweetener. The cup is a hazy tan to amber liquid with a drying finish. A low inclusion level keeps it drinkable, and a tasting trial sets the limit.

Dry Botanical Stick Packs

Stick packs combine willow bark extract with other plant extracts, flavor and carrier. Tannins darken with iron salts, so mineral premixes containing iron are kept apart. Uniform blending and sieving keep the dose steady across a run.

Cocoa-Toned Bar Premixes

Bars take the extract in the dry blend with cocoa, nuts and dates, where roasted notes cover the bitterness. The powder is premixed with dry ingredients ahead of the syrup, and finished bars are checked for moisture, shade and taste.

Formulation Notes

Willow bark extract is a light brown powder with a woody, faintly sweet aroma and a bitter, astringent taste. In water it disperses to a hazy amber-brown liquid, and the bitterness is moderate compared with gentian or chirata while the drying astringency stays pronounced. Phenolic glycosides and tannins darken with heat, alkali and iron contact, so the shade of the finished format is checked during stability trials.

Humidity pickup is moderate, yet an open pack still clumps. Dry-room weighing and a flow-agent premix suit capsule and stick lines. Reseal the pack after each draw, and keep opened packs in a closed container away from strong light.

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 ItemGeneral Information
SampleAvailable upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead TimeTypically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead TimeTypically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
PackagingSuitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
StorageStore 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.
DocumentationCOA · 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.

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