Wholesome in bulk™ Astragalus Root Extract Powder
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Bulk Astragalus Root Extract for Supplement Manufacturing
Astragalus root extract is a dry powder made from the dried root of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, plants in the pea family. It is usually standardized to polysaccharides measured by UV, and astragaloside IV by HPLC can be added as a second marker. We supply it in bulk to supplement brands, contract manufacturers, and formulators. You can request testing documents and samples on the quote form.
A root extract with named markers and two accepted species
Astragalus root extract is easy to specify once species and assay method are clear. It carries a polysaccharide grade by UV, a triterpene marker by HPLC, and a long trade record under the name huang qi. That gives buyers and quality teams clear points to compare from lot to lot.
Two accepted species
Specifications name Astragalus mongholicus, also listed as A. membranaceus var. mongholicus, or Astragalus membranaceus. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia accepts the root of both as astragalus root.
Root from established growing regions
Suppliers name Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Shanxi, and Heilongjiang in northern China. Roots are usually harvested after two to three years, then dried, sliced, and extracted.
Familiar market grades
Polysaccharide grades of 40 to 70% by UV are widely listed, and 50% is common. Ratio extracts such as 10:1 are also sold for formulas that do not need an assay.
A second marker by HPLC
Astragaloside IV is a triterpene saponin found in the root. Measuring it by HPLC adds a compound specific check next to the broader polysaccharide figure.
Fine, free flowing powder
Spec sheets call for a yellow brown to brown powder that passes an 80 mesh screen, with a bulk density near 0.30 to 0.60 g/mL. That suits capsule filling, tableting, and dry blending.
Unsulfured root available in the trade
Some astragalus root is dried with sulfur fumigation, which shifts its flavonoid profile. Buyers can specify unsulfured root and ask for a sulfite result on the COA.
Where formulators use astragalus root extract
This extract fits measured formats where fill weight and serving size are controlled, including:
- Capsules
- Compressed tablets
- Single ingredient powders
- Multiple ingredient botanical blends
- Powdered drink mixes
- Stick packs and sachets
- Gummies, after taste and stability trials
- Private label programs
Plan fill weights from the confirmed assay on each COA. A 50% polysaccharide extract and a 10:1 ratio extract are not interchangeable gram for gram, so recalculate your serving math whenever you change grades.
What to check before you buy astragalus root extract
Two powders sold under the same name can differ in species, assay method, carrier, and drying process. Review these points together, and ask for lot documents before you approve a supplier.
Species and plant part
Confirm Astragalus mongholicus or Astragalus membranaceus root on both the specification and the certificate of analysis (COA). Roots of related plants, such as Hedysarum polybotrys, are traded in the same markets.
Identity testing
Ask for an HPTLC or TLC fingerprint against a reference root. DNA barcoding of the raw root is another option when you qualify a new supplier.
Polysaccharides and carrier
The common UV method reads total carbohydrate. A starch or maltodextrin carrier also counts toward that figure, so ask whether any carrier is added and at what level.
Astragaloside IV by HPLC
If your formula or your customer needs a compound specific number, ask for astragaloside IV by HPLC. It is a narrower check than the polysaccharide assay.
Sulfur fumigation
Ask whether the root was dried with sulfur, and request a sulfite (SO2) result. Unsulfured root is sold as a separate product in this trade.
Contaminants and origin
Check heavy metals by ICP-MS, microbial limits by USP methods, pesticide residues, and residual solvents. Ask for the country of harvest as well as the country of extraction.
Label math: If your label lists polysaccharides or astragaloside IV per serving, base it on each lot's measured assay and your own finished product testing. A stated grade is a minimum, so the measured value on the COA is the figure to work from.
Typical specification for astragalus root extract
These values reflect the common 50% polysaccharides grade. Final figures come from the specification sheet and COA for your lot. NLT means not less than, and NMT means not more than.
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical source | Astragalus mongholicus or A. membranaceus, root | TLC or HPTLC fingerprint |
| Appearance | Yellow brown to brown fine powder | Visual |
| Polysaccharides | NLT 50% | UV |
| Astragaloside IV | Reported on the COA when tested | HPLC |
| Extraction solvent and ratio | Water, or water and ethanol, with the ratio stated on the COA | Supplier declaration |
| Carrier | None, or as named on the specification sheet | Supplier declaration |
| Sulfite (as SO2) | Reported on the COA | Supplier method |
| Particle size | NLT 95% through 80 mesh | USP <786> |
| Loss on drying | NMT 5.0% | USP <731> |
| Bulk density | 0.30 to 0.60 g/mL | USP <616> |
| Lead | NMT 3.0 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Arsenic | NMT 1.0 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Cadmium | NMT 1.0 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Mercury | NMT 0.1 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Total aerobic count | NMT 5,000 cfu/g | USP <2021> |
| Yeast and mold | NMT 100 cfu/g | USP <2021> |
| E. coli and Salmonella | Absent in 10 g and 25 g | USP <2022> |
| Pesticide residues | Meets USP <561> | GC-MS and LC-MS |
| Residual solvents | Meets USP <467> | GC |
| Shelf life | 36 months, unopened | Stability data |
Quality standards for astragalus root extract
Astragalus root has monographs in the USP-NF and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, plus an ISO standard for traded root. Together they define the plant, its named markers, and its contaminant limits, which gives buyers a shared reference.
USP Astragalus Root Dry Extract
The USP-NF monograph covers extract of the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus or A. membranaceus, made with water or water and alcohol. Content is stated as cycloartane saponins and isoflavonoids. Both must read 90.0 to 110.0% of the labeled amounts on the anhydrous basis. The monograph allows suitable carriers.
USP root and root powder
USP Astragalus Root and Astragalus Root Powder require NLT 0.04% cycloartane saponins and NLT 0.03% isoflavonoids, dried basis. The root monograph notes harvest from plants 2 to 3 years old in early fall. USP sells reference standards for astragaloside IV, calycosin, calycosin 7-O-glucoside, formononetin, ononin, daidzein, and daidzin.
Chinese Pharmacopoeia limits
The 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia requires NLT 0.080% astragaloside IV and NLT 0.020% calycosin 7-O-glucoside in the root, dried basis. It caps water at 10.0% and total ash at 5.0%. Metal limits are lead 5, cadmium 1, arsenic 2, mercury 0.2, and copper 20 mg/kg. The soil fungicide pentachloronitrobenzene is capped at 0.1 mg/kg.
ISO 22988 for traded root
ISO 22988:2020 sets requirements for Astragalus mongholicus root in international trade. It caps moisture at 10.0% and total ash at 5.0%, and requires NLT 17.0% water soluble extractives. Roots are graded First to Fourth by diameter and length. Metal and pesticide methods follow ISO 18664 and ISO 22258.
How astragaloside IV is measured
Pharmacopoeial methods measure astragaloside IV by HPLC with an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). Sample preparation changes the result. The Chinese method refluxes the powder in 80% methanol with 4% ammonium hydroxide, while the Hong Kong method sonicates it in methanol. On the same roots, the Chinese method read 2 to 3 times higher.
Sulfur fumigation checks
In June 2018, Hong Kong proposed a general sulfur dioxide limit of 150 mg/kg for traded dried herbs. Astragalus root is not on its short list of herbs allowed 400 mg/kg. Fumigation also leaves a marker compound, astragaloside sulfate, which LC-MS/MS can measure. Published testing used it to tell fumigated from unfumigated root.
Sourcing and processing practices for astragalus root extract
Much of an extract's profile is set before extraction starts, by root age, root grade, and drying. These practices give QA teams specific points to ask about and verify.
Match root grade to the grade you buy
Thin roots carry more of the named markers than thick ones. In one comparison, astragaloside IV measured 0.617% in roots under 0.3 cm and 0.146% in roots of 0.9 to 1.2 cm. The bark held 2 to 3 times more than the woody core. Ask which root grades went into your lot.
Ask for the drying method in writing
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia describes sun drying after harvest. Some root is instead dried over burning sulfur, which turns part of the astragalosides into sulfate forms and shifts the flavonoid profile. Ask for a written unsulfured statement. Add an astragaloside sulfate or sulfur dioxide test when you qualify a supplier.
Keep heat steps in view
Heat changes the isoflavone profile. Stir frying cut calycosin 7-O-glucoside by 25% and formononetin 7-O-glucoside by 37%, while free formononetin rose 1.7 to 1.8 times. Ask for extraction and drying temperatures, so a profile change between lots has a known cause.
Report markers on polysaccharide grades
Polysaccharide grades are the market norm, but the pharmacopoeias define astragalus by saponins and isoflavones. Ask for astragaloside IV and calycosin 7-O-glucoside results on each polysaccharide lot. A lot with a high polysaccharide figure and very low markers deserves a closer look at its carrier and its source.
Qualify origin for metals
Root and rhizome herbs tend to carry more lead and cadmium from soil than other plant parts. Ask for the growing region and for ICP-MS results on lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and copper for each lot. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia copper limit of 20 mg/kg is a useful extra line.
Confirm the species and the part
Astragalus is a very large genus, and many wild species are different plants with different chemistry. The seed of Astragalus complanatus is also traded, as a separate herb. Specify root of the two accepted species, and keep an identity result from the raw root in the supplier file.
Formulator tips for astragalus root extract
Use these points when you set label figures, fill weights, and incoming tests. The figures come from USP and Chinese Pharmacopoeia monographs, published supplier sheets, and method papers.
- Name the sample preparation behind any astragaloside IV figure, and write it into the specification. Use one method for supplier COAs and for your finished product test.
- Ask how astragaloside IV was detected. Published pharmacopoeial comparisons use HPLC with ELSD. If a COA cites plain UV detection, ask for the wavelength and the validation data.
- Set label figures at or below the measured value. The USP extract monograph allows 90.0 to 110.0% of the labeled content, so leave room for normal lot variation.
- Plan capsule fill from bulk density. At 0.30 to 0.60 g/mL, 500 mg of extract takes about 0.8 to 1.7 mL loose, so ask for tapped density before you choose a capsule size.
- Ask for water activity as well as loss on drying. One published COA sets water activity below 0.73, and its lot read 0.22.
- Do not swap a high purity astragaloside IV ingredient for root extract gram for gram. Those ingredients are specified by their astragaloside IV content, so redo the label math from the COA assay.
- Set an incoming test plan. Run HPTLC identity, polysaccharides, and astragaloside IV on every lot. For each new supplier, add ICP-MS metals with copper, a pesticide screen that includes pentachloronitrobenzene, and a sulfur test. Recheck the assay and loss on drying (NMT 5.0%) before you use stock past its retest date.
Helping shoppers read an astragalus label
Brands and their customer service teams hear the same label questions often. These answers stick to what the ingredient is and how it is labeled.
What the label line means
A typical line reads astragalus root extract (Astragalus membranaceus) (root). USP names the plant as Astragalus membranaceus or its variety mongholicus, and both are accepted sources. Huang qi is the Chinese name for the root.
How to read a standardization statement
A line such as standardized to 50% polysaccharides describes one broad measurement, usually by UV. A line that lists astragaloside IV names one compound measured by HPLC. The two figures describe different things and cannot be converted into each other.
Independent quality programs
Programs such as the USP Dietary Supplement Verification Program and NSF/ANSI 173 certification check finished products against their labels and contaminant limits. USP also publishes monographs for astragalus root, root powder, and dry extract.
Normal look, taste, and home storage
Astragalus extract is a yellow brown to brown powder. The dried root itself has a slightly sweet taste and a weak odor. Keep the bottle closed in a cool, dry place away from light.
Storage and handling for bulk astragalus extract
Root extracts hold their spec longest when they stay sealed, dry, and out of light. These steps keep the powder in good condition between production runs.
Keep it sealed
Close the inner liner after each use and press out the air. Extract powders pick up moisture from the air and can cake when left open.
Store cool and dry
Keep bags off the floor in a dry room, away from heat sources. Follow the temperature range on the spec sheet.
Keep away from light
Leave the powder in its original opaque packaging. Light and heat can shift color and assay over time.
Rotate stock
Record the lot number and retest date for each bag. Send older lots to production first.
Astragalus root extract buyer FAQ
Quick answers to the questions procurement and quality teams ask most.
What is astragalus root extract standardized to?
It is usually standardized to polysaccharides measured by UV, and 50% is a common grade. Some specifications add astragaloside IV by HPLC as a second marker. Check which method sits behind each number on the COA.
What is the difference between Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus mongholicus?
They are two closely related plants, and the root of either is accepted as astragalus root. A. mongholicus is also listed as a variety of A. membranaceus, so both names can appear on specs.
How are astragalus polysaccharides measured?
Most suppliers use a UV method that reads total carbohydrate. It is quick and widely used, but any carrier starch or sugar also adds to the result. Ask for the carrier declaration alongside the assay.
Is astragalus extract the same as astragalus root powder?
No. Root powder is dried, milled root. Extract is made by soaking the root in water or a water and ethanol mix. The liquid is then dried into a concentrated powder with a stated assay.
Is astragalus root sulfur fumigated?
Some is, so ask before you buy. Published testing shows sulfur fumigated root has a different chemical profile, and unsulfured root is sold as a separate product.
What documents can I get with an order?
A certificate of analysis (COA) and a specification sheet ship with every order. An allergen statement and a safety data sheet may also be available, depending on the lot in inventory. Contact us to request them.
Can I get a sample before a bulk order?
You can request one by choosing sample options on the quote form. We will confirm availability, size, and timing.
How should I store an opened bag?
Close the liner, press out the air, and keep the bag in a cool, dry place away from light. Use the powder within the shelf life shown on the COA.
Is there a USP monograph for astragalus extract?
Yes. The USP-NF includes Astragalus Root Dry Extract, along with monographs for the root and root powder. The extract must contain 90.0 to 110.0% of its labeled cycloartane saponins and isoflavonoids, on the anhydrous basis.
Why do astragaloside IV results differ between labs?
Sample preparation changes the result. A heated alkaline extraction, as in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, read 2 to 3 times higher than the Hong Kong method on the same roots. Ask which method your supplier used, and use the same one for finished product testing.
Request a quote for bulk astragalus root extract
Tell us your grade, species, quantity, and timing. We will reply with current pricing. Select testing documents and sample options on the quote form.
Order Astragalus Root ExtractBulk orders: Choose a pack size above, or use the quote form for larger volumes, testing documents, and sample options. We serve supplement brands, contract manufacturers, product developers, and formulators.
This bulk ingredient is sold for further manufacturing and formulation. The information on this page describes the ingredient and how commercial buyers evaluate it. It is not medical advice. Each finished product brand is responsible for its own labeling and product claims.
