Astragalus
Astragalus is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus or A. mongholicus, perennial legumes grown mainly in northern China and Mongolia, where the roots are harvested after several years, sliced and dried. Brands buy it as sliced or cut root, root powder, and water or water-alcohol extracts, often standardized to astragaloside IV or to polysaccharides.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried root slices or cut and sifted root for decoctions, teas and further extraction.
Dried root milled to a powder and sold by mesh, usually not standardized.
Water or hydroalcoholic root extract with a minimum astragaloside IV percentage by HPLC, or a polysaccharide percentage by UV-Vis.
Root, powder or extract from certified organic cultivation, with the certificate tied to the lot.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Keep root, powder and extract sealed in lined bags or drums, cool, dry and out of direct light. Powders and dry extracts pick up moisture and cake once opened, so reseal containers and limit time open on the production floor. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.
Astragaloside and polysaccharide levels vary with root age, growing region and processing, so check each lot's assay against your specification. Record the botanical name on the COA, the supplier lot and retest date, and rotate first-expiry-first-out.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Astragalus natural health product monograph lists Astragalus membranaceus with the dried root as the source part.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Astragalus (POL-NF-00164) covers the roots and alcoholic root extracts of Astragalus membranaceus and lists them as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · San Jose, CA
Draco Natural Products is a San Jose, California, maker of powdered botanical and mushroom extracts, including certified organic and traditional Chinese herb extracts, with an office in Shanghai.
Manufacturer · Mollet del Vallès, Spain
Euromed is a Spanish producer of standardized botanical extracts for pharmaceutical, supplement, food and cosmetic companies, with plants near Barcelona and in Murcia. It is part of the Dermapharm Group.
Distributor · Norway, IA
Frontier Co-op is a member-owned cooperative in Norway, Iowa, that sources and sells bulk herbs, spices, teas and botanicals by the pound, with a separate wholesale site for business buyers.
Distributor · Sacramento, CA
Starwest Botanicals is a Sacramento company that mills and sells bulk organic herbs, spices, teas and botanical powders by the pound and in 25 lb bags, with wholesale accounts for businesses.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include sliced or cut root, root powder, standardized extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect identity, astragaloside IV or polysaccharide assay, heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Keep root, powder and extract sealed in lined bags or drums, cool, dry and out of direct light. Powders and dry extracts pick up moisture and cake once opened, so reseal containers and limit time open on the production floor. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.
Health Canada's Astragalus natural health product monograph lists Astragalus membranaceus with the dried root as the source part. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Astragalus (POL-NF-00164) covers the roots and alcoholic root extracts of Astragalus membranaceus and lists them as not novel in food supplements.
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